METHODS FOR DELIVERY OF siRNA TO THE SPINAL CORD AND THERAPIES ARISING THEREFROM

ABSTRACT

The present application relates at least in part to methods for the administration of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to the spinal cord of a human or animal patient and also to a method of treatment for spinal cord injury and other diseases and disorders of the CNS. In particular, the application discloses methods to deliver an siRNA compound locally, directly and without the need for transduction vehicles and formulations in effective doses to the injured spinal cord to promote recovery of CNS function and or attenuation of allodynia.

This is a Continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/508,493, filed Jun. 7, 2012, which is the US national stage of PCT International Application No. PCT/US2010/055759, filed Nov. 8, 2010, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/259,173, filed Nov. 8, 2009, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The work disclosed herein was supported in part with grant no. 04-023-SCR2 from the New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research (NJCSCR).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates at least in part to methods for the administration of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to the spinal cord of a human or animal patient and also to a method for treatment of spinal cord injury and neuopathic pain. In particular, the application discloses methods to prevent and treat neuropathic pain and allodynia and methods to treat an injured spinal cord to promote recovery of CNS function.

BACKGROUND

siRNA represents a promising therapeutic technology, however hurdles remain to be overcome in the administration of siRNA to a patient. Various techniques have been employed to introduce siRNA into cells including cationic lipid-mediated transfection, viral delivery and nucleofection. Delivery using cationic lipids appears to be the easiest method for transfection, however its efficiency is often low and limited to specific types of cells. While viral delivery works well for some difficult cells, cell lines, and for in vivo delivery (Garraway et al., 2007, J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 322:982-8) it has raised safety concerns. Unmodified siRNA single strands or duplexes are extremely unstable in serum, with a half-life of less than 1 minute for the single strands and 3.3 to 5 minutes for the duplexes (Sioud, 2005. Curr Drug Targets. 6:647-53; Sioud and Iversen, 2005. Curr Drug Targets. 6:647-53). However, chemical modifications of the siRNAs have demonstrated dramatic improvement in stabilities; modified siRNA were approximately 900-fold more stable than unmodified siRNAs (Morrissey et al., 2005. Nat Biotechnol. 23:1002-7). Certain stable and active siRNA compounds are disclosed in PCT patent publications WO 2008/050329 and WO 2009/044392, assigned to an applicant of the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Delivery of siRNAs to the central nervous system (CNS) is problematic because of the blood brain barrier (BBB) and most successful strategies have used an intrathecal route. Intracerebroventricular infusion of naked siRNA at a high concentration via minipumps into the rodent brain have successfully inhibited target gene expression, however, knockdown of target gene expression drops off significantly in regions distant from the infusion site (Thakker et al., 2004. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 101:17270-5). Using a lumbar indwelling cannula attached to an osmotic minipump, intrathecal application of high doses (400 μg/day) of siRNAs in the spinal cord silenced the ATP-gated cation-channel P2X3, and relieved chronic neuropathic pain (Dorn et al., 2004. Nucleic Acids Res. 32:e49). Other studies achieved therapeutic effects after intrathecal delivery with substantially lower doses using an implanted Alzet pump in a chronic mouse model for ALS progression (Wang et al., 2008. J Biol Chem. 283:15845-52) and with pretreatment in acute pain models (Christoph et al., 2006. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 350:238-43; Luo et al., 2005. Mol Pain. 1:29). Rohl and Kerreck review various methods of RNAi in pain models (J. Neurochem. 99:371-380). Inoue has implicated RhoA activation in neuropathic pain (Inoue et al., 2004. Nat Med 10(7): 712-8).

Contusive injuries to the spinal cord produce primary damage to the tissue and initiate a cascade of events called secondary injury, which progresses in several phases over days to weeks (Beattie et al., 2000. J Neurotrauma. 17:915-25). Microglia within the spinal cord become activated rapidly after injury. Activated macrophages begin to accumulate by 3 days after spinal cord injury in the rat (Schwab et al., 2004. Glia. 47:377-86). During the first several days after SCI there is extensive cell death in and around the injury site and the axonal processes of neurons die back from the injury site. These processes are accompanied by complex molecular changes including upregulation of RhoA and its activation in both neural (D'Alessandri et al., 1995. Curr. Eye Res. 14:911-926; Dubreuil et al., 2003. J Cell Biol. 162:233-43; Erschbamer et al., 2005. J Comp Neurol. 484:224-33; Yune et al., 2007. J Neurosci. 27:7751-61) and immune cells (Fu et al., 2007. J Neurosci. 27:4154-64; Pixley et al., 2005 J Cell Sci. 118:1873-83; Schwab et al., 2004), which are believed to contribute to secondary damage as well as to limit axonal regeneration and functional recovery. Cell permeable Rho antagonists (e.g. BA-210), which inhibit the activity of phosphorylated Rho family proteins including RhoA, have shown improved recovery after spinal cord injury in rodents (Lord-Fontaine et al., 2008. J Neurotrauma. 25:1309-22) and are being tested in clinical trials to promote axon regeneration and functional recovery (Baptiste et al., 2009. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 18:663-73). RhoA protein levels are upregulated several fold reaching their highest levels in the rat spinal cord ˜7 days following spinal cord contusion, providing a window for therapeutic intervention after SCI (Erschbamer et al., 2005 supra). However, BA-210 inhibition of RhoA was found only up to 4 days after acute treatment but not at one week (Lord-Fontaine et al., 2008) when RhoA expression is robust (Erschbamer et al., 2005). Methods for targeted delivery of siRNA to the CNS and enhanced activity in the target cells would be desirable.

Pain is the most common symptom of disease and the most frequent complaint with which patients present to physicians. Inadequate pain management remains a major public health problem. Currently available treatment options for allodynia/SCI associated pain are limited and since many SCI pain conditions are not amenable to treatment, particularly at-level and below-level neuropathic pain, management becomes largely symptomatic. A solution for the treatment of allodynia/SCI associated pain is therefore required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Methods for treatment of diseases, disorders and injury of the central nervous system are provided herein. The application discloses a method to deliver siRNA to an injured or diseased spinal cord in a subject in the absence of transduction vehicles, delivery carriers or delivery systems and provides a method of treating diseases, disorders and injury of the central nervous system including spinal cord injury, neurodegeneration and neuropathic pain.

In one aspect provided is a method of treating a subject suffering from a disease, a disorder or an injury of the CNS associated with expression of a target gene, comprising locally administering to the subject's spinal cord a double stranded RNA compound directed to the target gene in an amount effective to treat the subject. In some embodiments the double stranded RNA compound is administered intraparenchymally and/or by lumbar injection. In some embodiments the double stranded RNA compound is administered intraparenchymally. In preferred embodiments the double stranded RNA compound is administered by lumbar injection. In some embodiments the double stranded RNA is administered to the subject by lumber puncture 0 to 48 hours post injury or onset of the disease. In some embodiments the double stranded RNA is administered to the subject by lumber puncture 0 to 42 hours, 0 to 36 hours, 0 to 30 hours or 0 to 24 hours post injury or onset of disease.

In some embodiments the subject is suffering from pain. In various embodiments the pain is neuropathic pain. In particular embodiments provided is a method of treating or preventing neuropathic pain in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a double stranded RNA compound directed to a target gene selected from RhoA or TLR4, in an amount effective to treat or prevent neuropathic pain in the subject. In preferred embodiments the double stranded RNA compound is administered by lumbar injection.

In some embodiments the neuropathic pain is postherpatic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, and neuropathic pain associated with a condition selected from the group consisting of herpes, HIV, traumatic nerve injury, stroke, post-ischemia, fibromyalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, complex regional pain syndrome, spinal cord injury, sciatica, phantom limb pain, diabetic neuropathy, and cancer chemotherapeutic-induced neuropathic pain.

In some embodiments the double stranded RNA is siRNA. In preferred embodiments the siRNA compound is administered as naked siRNA.

In some embodiments the siRNA is synthetic, chemically modified siRNA. In some embodiments the disease, disorder or injury of the CNS is associated with expression of a gene selected from a nociceptor-specific gene or a gene expressed in a nociceptive neuron. In some embodiments the disease, disorder or injury of the CNS is associated with expression of a gene selected from APP, MAPT, SOD1, BACE1, CASP3, TGM2, NFE2L3, TARDBP, ADRB1, CAMK2A, CBLN1, CDK5R1, GABRA1, MAPK10, NOS1, NPTX2, NRGN, NTS, PDCD2, PDE4D, PENK, SYT1, TTR, FUS, LRDD, CYBA, ATF3, ATF6, CASP2, CASP1, CASP7, CASP8, CASP9, HRK, C1QBP, BNIP3, MAPK8, MAPK14, Rac1, GSK3B, P2RX7, TRPM2, PARG, CD38, STEAP4, BMP2, GJA1, TYROBP, CTGF, ANXA2, RHOA, DUOX1, RTP801, RTP801L, NOX4, NOX1, NOX2 (gp91pho, CYBB), NOX5, DUOX2, NOXO1, NOXO2 (p47phox, NCF1), NOXA1, NOXA2 (p67phox, NCF2), p53 (TP53), HTRA2, KEAP1, SHC1, ZNHIT1, LGALS3, HI95, SOX9, ASPP1, ASPP2, CTSD, CAPNS1, FAS and FASLG, NOGO and NOGO-R; TLR1, TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, IL1bR, MYD88, TICAM, TIRAP, HSP47.

In some embodiments the method disclosed herein results in recovery of certain lost functions including motor functions in a subject having SCI. Motor functions include use of arms and legs, including regaining walking function. In some embodiments the method results in preservation of white matter in a subject suffering from a disease, disorder or injury of the CNS. In some embodiments the method suppresses SCI-induced neuropathic pain or allodynia. In some embodiments the method prevents allodynia in a subject with SCI.

Without wishing to be bound to theory, the siRNA when administered in accordance with the present method, diffuse rapidly in the CNS tissue and are taken up by various cell types including neurons, astrocytes, macrophages and endothelial cells and reduce the SCI-induced increase in target protein (i.e. target genes in Table A) at one week after treatment.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description and examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1F: Uptake of siRNA in SCI. Micrographs (FIG. 1A) taken 3 days following SCI and intraparenchymal injections at 3 sites (centered at impact site, and 2 mm rostral and caudal) with 1 μl of 1 μg/μl Cy3.5-siRNA each at a depth of 1 mm Uptake is widespread with labeled cells identified as far as 5 mm rostral and caudal from the injection sites. Micrographs show examples of different types of cells analyzed including motor neurons (FIG. 1B), macrophages (FIG. 1C), axons (FIG. 1D) and endothelial cells (FIG. 1E). Scale bar=20 um (micrometer). The relative prevalence (rare, + to frequent, ++++) for the each type of labeled cells at different incubation times are summarized in the table in FIG. 1F.

FIGS. 2A-2B. Activity and stability of siRhoA in vitro. Effects of siGFP and siRhoA on RhoA mRNA were quantified using qPCR after transfection into HeLa and REF52 cells using Lipofectamine™2000. Vertical axis shows RhoA mRNA quantities as the percentage of control mock-transfected cells (FIG. 2A). Aliquots of 1 μg of siRhoA were incubated in 20 μL of complete rat CSF at 37° C. for different time intervals and then analyzed on nondenaturing 20% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (FIG. 2B). Similar quantities of siRhoA dissolved in PBS were used for size control.

FIGS. 3A-3C. Effects of siRNA treatments on RhoA protein and functional recovery after SCI. Three (3) μg of siRhoA or siGFP were injected into the parenchymal tissue in 3 sites and then the cords were contused using the 12.5 weight drop in the rat MASCIS model for SCI. At one week following SCI and treatment, siRhoA treated rats showed reduced immunoblotting with antibodies against RhoA; immunoblot of GAPDH in the same lanes confirmed equal protein loadings (FIG. 3A). Therapeutic effects of a 3 μg intraspinal injection of siRhoA compared to siGFP controls were tested using the 12.5 and 25 mm weight drops. siRhoA treated rats showed significant (p-value=0.0098) locomotor BBB improvement compared to siGFP controls in the 12.5 mm contusion injury (FIG. 3B) when analyzed by ANOVA post-hoc repeated measures (n=6). A similar trend in locomotor improvement was observed with the more severe 25 mm contusion injury (FIG. 3C) but the differences observed were not statistically significant (n=6).

FIG. 4. Effects of siRNA treatments on RhoA protein measured by immunoblotting in the central 5 mm SCI site. Immediately after contusion using the 12.5 weight drop in the MASCIS model for SCI, 3 μg of siRhoA or siGFP were injected into the parenchymal tissue (1 μl intraspinal injections of 1 μg/μl in 3 sites as in FIG. 3. At one week following SCI and treatment, siRhoA treated rats show reduced average intensities after imunoblotting with antibodies against RhoA protein when normalized to intensities of GAPDH in the same lanes.

FIG. 5. Effects siRNA treatments on RhoA protein measured by ELISA in the central 5 mm SCI site. Immediately after contusion using the 12.5 weight drop in the MASCIS model for SCI, 3 μg of siRhoA or siGFP were injected into the parenchymal tissue (1 μl intraspinal injections of 1 μg/μl in 3 sites. At one week following SCI and treatment, siRhoA treated rats show reduced average intensities after ELISA when normalized to the average signals in rats treated with SCI only. Lower levels of RhoA protein were detected after RhoA siRNA treatment by comparison to the GFP siRNA control.

FIGS. 6A-6G. Distribution of Cy3.5-labeled siRNA one day following delivery by lumbar puncture. About 24 h after 12.5 mm MASCIS contusion at T9-10, Cy3.5-labeled siRNA was injected at the L3/4 level. Dorsal view of a whole spinal cord under fluorescence dissection microscope (FIG. 6A); the arrow shows the location of lumbar puncture. After fixation and cryosectioning cross sections were photographed at the injury center (I) and at locations proximal (P) including the cervical region in FIG. 6B (location is not shown in FIG. 6A), and distal (D-) to the injury site as indicated (FIGS. 6B-6G). Labeled siRNA was observed in gray matter in injury site and very weakly in the proximal region (FIG. 6C), but not in the cervical region (FIG. 6B). In distal regions (FIGS. 6E-6G), Cy3.5-labeled siRNA was localized primarily surrounding the surface of the spinal cord, in the central canal and in the grey matter.

FIGS. 7A-7B Inhibition of RhoA mRNA 3 days after siRNA injection via lumbar puncture. Rats were injured with the MASCIS Impactor using a 12.5 mm weight drop (Hasegawa et al., 2005) and injected one day later via lumbar puncture with siRNAs. FIG. 7A shows that gene expression level of RhoA (as measured by q-RTPCR) at the injury site (I) at day 4 after moderate contusion injury was significantly decreased by treatment of siRhoA when administered using lumbar puncture (SCI only: n=5; control siRNA: n=8; 30 ug siRhoA: n=5 and 100 ug siRhoA: n=5). FIG. 7B shows that RhoA protein level as measured by ELISA in the injury site (I) at day 4 after moderate contusion injury was also significantly suppressed by 100 ug siRhoA administered using lumbar puncture.

FIG. 8. Functional Recovery of Rat Hindlimb Walking (BBB) following lumbar puncture (L3/4) injection. After 12.5 mm contusion injury contusion in MASCIS model for SCI, siRhoA treatment showed improvement by comparison to siGFP controls at 8 weeks (diamond vs. triangle).

FIGS. 9A-9B. Effects on allodynia of lumbar administration of siRhoA after SCI. (FIG. 9A) One day after 12.5 mm MASCIS contusion siRNAs were injected in lumbar spinal cords and measurements were made of pressure withdrawal threshold (PWT) with von Frye filaments on the glabrous surface of the hindpaw (siGFP n=7, siRhoA n=7); ANOVA, p=0.0023. (FIG. 9B) The lateral hindpaw test was performed on the same groups of rats included in FIG. 9A; the sensitivity was higher but the pattern of change parallels that observed for the glabrous paw test (siGFP n=7, siRhoA n=7); ANOVA, p=0.0001.

FIG. 10. Measurement of tissue sparing in the spinal cord after SCI and treatment with siRNA. Eight weeks after 12.5 mm contusion with MASCIS impactor and injection of siRNAs, cross sections from indicated regions of the spinal cord were stained with LFB and the fraction of the total area with superthreshold staining was calculated. The tissues were pooled from two 8-week experiments including 4 of the rats used for testing in FIG. 9. Compared to controls with siGFP (n=8) administered at 24 hours after SCI, the siRhoA group (n=8) showed higher areas of LFB staining; ANOVA, p=0.0006.

FIGS. 11A-11D. Effects of lumbar administration of siRhoA after SCI on activated macrophages and the dorsal CST. Immunostaining for ED1 (FIGS. 11A, 11B) and PKCγ(FIGS. 11C, 11D) were performed on the sections from the same rats analyzed in FIGS. 9 and 10. ED1 staining, which recognizes activated macrophages and microglia was most robust around the contusion site, was reduced with the siRhoA treatment by comparison to siGFP; sections shown are at 2 mm rostral to the contusion epicenter (+2). Quantitation of ED1-positive areas after thresholding shows that the average area was significantly (ANOVA, p=0.018) lower with siRhoA than with siGFP in the injury epicenter extending until 2 mm rostral. After double immunostaining for PKCγ staining with ED 1, areas corresponding to the dorsal CST were outlined and enlarged. After thresholding, the PKCγ, areas were measured and the averages are shown (FIG. 11D). The results show significant (p=0.028) preservation of the PKCγ, signal with siRhoA group (n=8) by comparison to the siGFP (n=8) over several mm in the regions rostral to the injury epicenter. The sections 8 mm rostral (+8) from the injury site express normal levels of PKCγ immunostaining in regions corresponding to the dorsal CST. There did not appear to be differences in PKCγ immunostaining in lamina II. Scale bars=500 μm.

FIGS. 12A-12E. siRhoA promoted higher serotonergic fiber reactivity caudal to the injury site. Transverse sections of the spinal cord at 12 mm distal to lesion showed higher intensities of serotonergic fibers in multiple regions of siRhoA-treated rats (FIG. 12B) than in siGFP treated controls (FIG. 12A). The location of eight areas (each area is 167.41 um×167.41 um) that were measured (FIG. 12C). A representative higher power confocal microscopic image of serotonergic staining shows fiber staining (FIG. 12D). Serotonin fiber lengths in the designated areas (FIG. 12C) were quantified and the averages in area 1-4, 5-8 and 1-8 were all found to be significantly (*** p=0.018) higher in the siRhoA group (n=8) by comparison to the siGFP (n=8) control (FIG. 12E), Scale bar=50 μm.

FIGS. 13A-13B. Schemes of the experiments performed to show effect of siRhoA or siTLR4 in treating (FIG. 13A) or preventing (FIG. 13B). SCI-induced allodynia. Results shown in FIGS. 14A-14B.

FIGS. 14A-14B. Effects of administration of siRhoA and siTLR4 after SCI on allodynia. (A) (B) One day after 12.5 mm MASCIS contusion siRNAs were injected in lumbar spinal cords and measurements were made of pressure withdrawal threshold (PWT) with von Frye filaments on the glabrous surface of the hindpaw.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Representative delivery methods of the present invention include 1) intraparenchymal injection at the time of surgery to stabilize damaged vertebrae (Lenehan B et al., 2010) or at the time of any other surgery on the spinal cord, for example for decompression, tumors, etc.; and 2) bolus injection via lumbar puncture delivery.

DEFINITIONS

For convenience certain terms employed in the specification, examples and claims are described herein.

It is to be noted that, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural forms unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

Where aspects or embodiments of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups or other grouping of alternatives, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the group.

An “inhibitor” is a compound which is capable of reducing the expression of a gene or the activity of the product of such gene to an extent sufficient to achieve a desired biological or physiological effect. The term “inhibitor” as used herein refers to one or more of an oligonucleotide inhibitor, including double stranded RNA and antisense compounds. Double stranded RNA includes siRNA, shRNA and miRNA. The application includes for example, antisense and siRNA oligonucleotides to RhoA, TLR4 and other target genes, such as disclosed in Table A Inhibition may also be referred to as down-regulation or, for RNAi, silencing.

The term “inhibit” as used herein refers to reducing the expression of a gene or the activity of the product of such gene to an extent sufficient to achieve a desired biological or physiological effect. Inhibition may be complete or partial.

“Spinal cord injury” or “SCI” or myelopathy, is a disturbance of the spinal cord that results in loss of sensation and/or mobility. The two common types of spinal cord injury are due to trauma and disease. Traumatic injury can result from automobile accidents, falls, gunshot, diving accidents inter alia, and diseases that can affect the spinal cord include polio, spina bifida, tumors, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) syringomyelia, transverse myelitis and Friedreich's ataxia. SCI refers to damage to the spinal cord resulting from compression, interruption of the to the blood supply to the nerves of the spinal cord, or severing of the spinal cord. SCI includes spinal cord trauma which is damage to the spinal cord resulting from direct injury to the cord per se or indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels.

A “nociceptor” refers to a sensory receptor that responds to pain or pressure, temperature or chemicals. Nociceptors are typically classified by the environmental stimuli to which they respond. Some nociceptors respond to more than one stimulus and are designated polymodal. The nociceptors of particular relevance to the disclosure, are nociceptors expressed in GABAergic neurons. (For example, see Pharmacological Management Of Neuropathic Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury. Baastrup C, Finnerup NB. CNS Drugs. 2008; 22(6):455-75).

Neuropathic pain is characterized by a distinct set of symptoms which can include enhanced sensitivity to innocuous thermal-mechanical stimuli, abnormal sensitivity to noxious stimuli, tenderness, and spontaneous burning pain. Neuropathic pain is also progressive and generally worsens over time. Neuropathic pain is produced by damage to, or pathological changes in, the peripheral nervous system (PNS) or central nervous system (CNS).

Examples of pathological changes include prolonged peripheral or central neuronal sensitization, central sensitization related damage to nervous system inhibitory functions, and abnormal interactions between the somatic and sympathetic nervous systems. Examples of neuropathic pain include monoradiculopathies, trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia, phantom limb pain, complex regional pain syndromes and the various peripheral neuropathies. In some embodiments neuropathic pain is postherpatic neuralgia, or neuropathic pain associated with a condition selected from herpes, HIV, traumatic nerve injury, stroke, post-ischemia, fibromyalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, complex regional pain syndrome, spinal cord injury, sciatica, phantom limb pain, diabetic neuropathy, and cancer chemotherapeutic-induced neuropathic pain. The method of claim 1, wherein the neuropathic pain is associated with a condition selected from the group consisting of traumatic nerve injury, post-ischemia, fibromyalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, complex regional pain syndrome, sciatica, phantom limb pain, diabetic neuropathy, and cancer chemotherapeutic-induced neuropathic pain. In some embodiments neuropathic pain is caused by a malignant tumor, stroke, postherpetic neuralgia, neuropathy with monoclonal protein, vasculitic neuropathy, neuropathy associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome, neuropathy associated with Fabry's disease, an inflammatory condition, an autoimmune disorder including mulitiple sclerosis, a toxin, a drug, a hereditary abnormality, a mastectomy, or an amputation.

The hallmarks of neuropathic pain are chronic allodynia and hyperalgesia.

Allodynia refers to pain resulting from a stimulus that ordinarily does not elicit a painful response, for example light pressure.

Hyperalgesia refers to increased sensitivity to a normally painful stimulus. Primary hyperalgesia, caused by sensitization of C-fibers, occurs immediately within the area of the injury. Secondary hyperalgesia, caused by sensitization of dorsal horn neurons, occurs in the undamaged area surrounding the injury.

Analgesia, or the reduction of pain perception, can be affected by decreasing transmission along the nociceptive pathways. CNS-mediated analgesia leads to an overall inhibition of the pain transmission.

Pain is the most common symptom of disease and the most frequent complaint with which patients present to physicians. The phrase “pain management medication” includes one or more therapeutic agents that are administered to prevent, alleviate or remove pain entirely. According to the present application a pain management medication includes double stranded RNA molecules, including siRNA molecules, that inhibit or down regulate a target gene, selected from Table A.

A “siRNA inhibitor” is a compound which is capable of reducing the expression of a gene or the activity of the product of such gene to an extent sufficient to achieve a desired biological or physiological effect. The term “siRNA inhibitor” as used herein refers to one or more of a siRNA, siNA, shRNA, synthetic shRNA; miRNA Inhibition may also be referred to as down-regulation or, for RNA interference (RNAi), silencing

The term “inhibit” as used herein refers to reducing or down regulating the expression of a gene or the activity of the product of such gene to an extent sufficient to achieve a desired biological or physiological effect. Inhibition may be complete or partial.

As used herein, the term “inhibition” of a target gene means inhibition of gene expression (transcription or translation) or polypeptide activity. The polynucleotide sequence of the target mRNA sequence, refers to the mRNA sequences, or any homologous sequences thereof preferably having at least 70% identity, more preferably 80% identity, even more preferably 90% or 95% identity to a target mRNA, in a non-limiting example mRNA sequences of target genes set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2. Therefore, polynucleotide sequences, which have undergone mutations, alterations or modifications as described herein are encompassed in the present invention. The terms “mRNA polynucleotide sequence” and “mRNA” are used interchangeably. RhoA is a GTPase that regulates the actin cytoskeleton and it is upregulated following spinal cord injury and has been shown to be expressed in the trabecular meshwork of the eye.

As used herein, the terms “polynucleotide” and “nucleic acid” may be used interchangeably and refer to nucleotide sequences comprising deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and ribonucleic acid (RNA). The terms should also be understood to include, as equivalents, analogs of either RNA or DNA made from nucleotide analogs. Throughout this application, mRNA sequences are set forth as representing the corresponding genes.

“Oligonucleotide” or “oligomer” refers to a deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide sequence from about 2 to about 50 nucleotides. Each DNA or RNA nucleotide may be independently natural or synthetic, and or modified or unmodified. Modifications include changes to the sugar moiety, the base moiety and or the linkages between nucleotides in the oligonucleotide. The compounds disclosed herein encompass molecules comprising deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, modified deoxyribonucleotides, modified ribonucleotides and combinations thereof.

“Nucleotide” is meant to encompass deoxyribonucleotides and ribonucleotides, which may be natural or synthetic, and or modified or unmodified. Modifications include changes to the sugar moiety, the base moiety and or the linkages between ribonucleotides in the oligoribonucleotide. As used herein, the term “ribonucleotide” encompasses natural and synthetic, unmodified and modified ribonucleotides. Modifications include changes to the sugar moiety, to the base moiety and/or to the linkages between ribonucleotides in the oligonucleotide.

RNA Interference and siNA Nucleic Acid Molecules

RNA interference (RNAi) refers to the process of sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing in animals mediated by short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) (Zamore et al., 2000, Cell, 101, 25-33; Fire et al., 1998, Nature, 391, 806; Hamilton et al., 1999, Science, 286, 950-951; Lin et al., 1999, Nature, 402, 128-129; Sharp, 1999, Genes & Dev., 13:139-141; and Strauss, 1999, Science, 286, 886). The corresponding process in plants (Heifetz et al., International PCT Publication No. WO 99/61631) is often referred to as post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) or RNA silencing.

The presence of long dsRNAs in cells stimulates the activity of a ribonuclease III enzyme referred to as Dicer (Bass, 2000, Cell, 101, 235; Zamore et al., 2000, Cell, 101, 25-33; Hammond et al., 2000, Nature, 404, 293). Dicer is involved in the processing of the dsRNA into short dsRNA segments known as short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) (Zamore et al., 2000, Cell, 101, 25-33; Bass, 2000, Cell, 101, 235; Berstein et al., 2001, Nature, 409, 363). Short interfering RNAs derived from Dicer activity are typically about 21 to about 23 nucleotides in length and include about 19 base pair duplexes (Zamore et al., 2000, Cell, 101, 25-33; Elbashir et al., 2001, Genes Dev., 15, 188). The cytoplasmic RNAi response features an endonuclease complex, commonly referred to as RISC, RNA-induced silencing complex, which mediates cleavage of single-stranded RNA having sequence complementary to the antisense strand of the siRNA duplex. Cleavage of the target RNA takes place in the middle of the region complementary to the antisense strand of the siRNA duplex (Elbashir et al., 2001, Genes Dev., 15, 188).

The inhibitors or therapeutic agents disclosed herein comprise nucleic acid molecules. As used herein, the term “nucleic acid molecule” or “nucleic acid” are used interchangeably and refer to an oligonucleotide, nucleotide or polynucleotide. Variations of “nucleic acid molecule” are described in more detail herein. A nucleic acid molecule encompasses both modified nucleic acid molecules and unmodified nucleic acid molecules as described herein.

A nucleic acid molecule may include deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, modified nucleotides or nucleotide analogs in any combination.

In some embodiments provided re the double stranded nucleic acid molecules having the structure (A)

-   -   (A) ′5 (N)x-Z 3′ (antisense strand)         -   3′ Z′—(N′)y-z″ 5′ (sense strand)             wherein each of N and N′ is a nucleotide which may be             unmodified or modified, or an unconventional moiety;             wherein each of (N)x and (N′)y is an oligonucleotide in             which each consecutive N or N′ is joined to the next N or N′             by a covalent bond;             wherein each of Z and Z′ is independently present or absent,             but if present independently includes 1-5 consecutive             nucleotides or non-nucleotide moieties or a combination             thereof covalently attached at the 3′ terminus of the strand             in which it is present;             wherein z″ may be present or absent, but if present is a             capping moiety covalently attached at the 5′ terminus of             (N′)y;             each of x and y is independently an integer from 18 to 40;             wherein the sequence of (N′)y has complementary to the             sequence of (N)x; and wherein (N)x includes an antisense             sequence to mRNA of a gene upregulated in spinal cord             injury, disease or disorder.

In some embodiments the covalent bond joining each consecutive N or N′ is a phosphodiester bond.

In some embodiments x=y and each of x and y is 19, 20, 21, 22 or 23. In various embodiments x=y=19. In some embodiments the antisense and sense strands form a duplex by base pairing

In some embodiments the 5′ terminal nucleotide of the antisense strand (position 1 of the antisense strand) is mismatched to the target mRNA. In some embodiments the 5′ terminal nucleotide of the antisense strand is a modified riboadenosine or a modified ribouridine.

In some embodiments Z and Z′ are absent. In other embodiments one of Z or Z′ is present.

As used herein, the term “nucleotide” refers to a chemical moiety having a sugar (or an analog thereof, or a modified sugar), a nucleotide base (or an analog thereof, or a modified base), and a phosphate group (or analog thereof, or a modified phosphate group). A nucleotide encompasses both modified nucleotides or unmodified nucleotides as described herein. As used herein, nucleotides may include deoxyribonucleotides (e.g., unmodified deoxyribonucleotides), ribonucleotides (e.g., unmodified ribonucleotides), and modified nucleotide analogs including, inter alia, locked nucleic acids and unlocked nucleic acids, peptide nucleic acids, L-nucleotides (also referred to as mirror nucleotides), ethylene-bridged nucleic acid (ENA), arabinoside, PACE, nucleotides with a 6 carbon sugar, as well as nucleotide analogs (including abasic nucleotides) often considered to be non-nucleotides. In some embodiments, nucleotides may be modified in the sugar, nucleotide base and/or in the phosphate group with any modification known in the art, such as modifications described herein. A “polynucleotide” or “oligonucleotide” as used herein refer to a chain of linked nucleotides; polynucleotides and oligonucleotides may likewise have modifications in the nucleotide sugar, nucleotide bases and phosphate backbones as are well known in the art and/or are disclosed herein.

As used herein, the term “short interfering nucleic acid”, “siNA”, or “short interfering nucleic acid molecule” refers to any nucleic acid molecule capable of modulating gene expression or viral replication. Preferably siNA inhibits or down regulates gene expression or viral replication. siNA includes without limitation nucleic acid molecules that are capable of mediating sequence specific RNAi, for example short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), short hairpin RNA (shRNA), short interfering oligonucleotide, short interfering nucleic acid, short interfering modified oligonucleotide, chemically-modified siRNA, post-transcriptional gene silencing RNA (ptgsRNA), and others. As used herein, “short interfering nucleic acid”, “siNA”, or “short interfering nucleic acid molecule” has the meaning described in more detail elsewhere herein.

As used herein, the term “complementary” means that a nucleic acid can form hydrogen bond(s) with another nucleic acid sequence by either traditional Watson-Crick or other non-traditional types. A percent complementarity indicates the percentage of contiguous residues in a nucleic acid molecule that can form hydrogen bonds (e.g., Watson-Crick base pairing) with a second nucleic acid sequence (e.g., 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 nucleotides out of a total of 10 nucleotides in the first oligonucleotide being based paired to a second nucleic acid sequence having 10 nucleotides represents 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% complementary respectively). “Fully complementary” means that all the contiguous residues of a nucleic acid sequence will hydrogen bond with the same number of contiguous residues in a second nucleic acid sequence. In one embodiment, a nucleic acid molecule disclosed herein includes about 15 to about 35 or more (e.g., about 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 or 35 or more) nucleotides that are complementary to one or more target nucleic acid molecules or a portion thereof.

As used herein, the term “sense region” refers to a nucleotide sequence of a siNA molecule complementary (partially or fully) to an antisense region of the siNA molecule. The sense strand of a siNA molecule can include a nucleic acid sequence having homology with a target nucleic acid sequence. As used herein, “sense strand” refers to nucleic acid molecule that includes a sense region and may also include additional nucleotides. The sense strand is also referred to as the passenger strand.

As used herein, the term “antisense region” refers to a nucleotide sequence of a siNA molecule complementary (partially or fully) to a target nucleic acid sequence. The antisense strand of a siNA molecule can optionally include a nucleic acid sequence complementary to a sense region of the siNA molecule. As used herein, “antisense strand” refers to nucleic acid molecule that includes an antisense region and may also include additional nucleotides.

The antisense strand is also referred to as the guide strand.

As used herein, the term “RNA” refers to a molecule that includes at least one ribonucleotide residue.

As used herein, the term “duplex region” refers to the region in two complementary or substantially complementary oligonucleotides that form base pairs with one another, either by Watson-Crick base pairing or any other manner that allows for a duplex between oligonucleotide strands that are complementary or substantially complementary. For example, an oligonucleotide strand having 21 nucleotide units can base pair with another oligonucleotide of 21 nucleotide units, yet only 19 bases on each strand are complementary or substantially complementary, such that the “duplex region” consists of 19 base pairs. The remaining base pairs may, for example, exist as 5′ and 3′ overhangs. Further, within the duplex region, 100% complementarity is not required; substantial complementarity is allowable within a duplex region. Substantial complementarity refers to complementarity between the strands such that they are capable of annealing under biological conditions. Techniques to empirically determine if two strands are capable of annealing under biological conditions are well know in the art. Alternatively, two strands can be synthesized and added together under biological conditions to determine if they anneal to one another.

As used herein, the terms “non-pairing nucleotide analog” means a nucleotide analog which includes a non-base pairing moiety including but not limited to: 6 des amino adenosine (Nebularine), 4-Me-indole, 3-nitropyrrole, 5-nitroindole, Ds, Pa, N3-Me ribo U, N3-Me riboT, N3-Me dC, N3-Me-dT, N1-Me-dG, N1-Me-dA, N3-ethyl-dC, N3-Me dC. In some embodiments the non-base pairing nucleotide analog is a ribonucleotide. In other embodiments it is a deoxyribonucleotide.

As used herein, the term, “terminal functional group” includes without limitation a halogen, alcohol, amine, carboxylic, ester, amide, aldehyde, ketone, ether groups.

An “abasic moiety” or “abasic nucleotide analog” is as used herein may also be referred to herein and in the art as a pseudo-nucleotide or an unconventional moiety. While a nucleotide is a monomeric unit of nucleic acid, generally consisting of a ribose or deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate, and a base (adenine, guanine, thymine, or cytosine in DNA; adenine, guanine, uracil, or cytosine in RNA). an abasic or pseudo-nucleotide lacks a base, and thus is not strictly a nucleotide as the term is generally used in the art. Abasic deoxyribose moieties include for example, abasic deoxyribose-3′-phosphate; 1,2-dideoxy-D-ribofuranose-3-phosphate; 1,4-anhydro-2-deoxy-D-ribitol-3-phosphate. Inverted abasic deoxyribose moieties include inverted deoxyriboabasic; 3′,5′ inverted deoxyabasic 5′-phosphate.

The term “capping moiety” (or “z” in structure (A)) as used herein includes a moiety which can be covalently linked to the 5′ terminus of (N′)y and includes abasic ribose moiety, abasic deoxyribose moiety, modifications abasic ribose and abasic deoxyribose moieties including 2′ O alkyl modifications; inverted abasic ribose and abasic deoxyribose moieties and modifications thereof; C6-imino-Pi; a mirror nucleotide including L-DNA and L-RNA; 5′OMe nucleotide; and nucleotide analogs including 4′,5′-methylene nucleotide; 1-β-D-erythrofuranosyl)nucleotide; 4′-thio nucleotide, carbocyclic nucleotide; 5′-amino-alkyl phosphate; 1,3-diamino-2-propyl phosphate, 3-aminopropyl phosphate; 6-aminohexyl phosphate; 12-aminododecyl phosphate; hydroxypropyl phosphate; 1,5-anhydrohexitol nucleotide; alpha-nucleotide; threo-pentofuranosyl nucleotide; acyclic 3′,4′-seco nucleotide; 3,4-dihydroxybutyl nucleotide; 3,5-dihydroxypentyl nucleotide, 5′-5′-inverted abasic moiety; 1,4-butanediol phosphate; 5′-amino; and bridging or non bridging methylphosphonate and 5′-mercapto moieties.

Certain capping moieties may be abasic ribose or abasic deoxyribose moieties; inverted abasic ribose or abasic deoxyribose moieties; C6-amino-Pi; a mirror nucleotide including L-DNA and L-RNA. The nucleic acid molecules as disclosed herein may be synthesized using one or more inverted nucleotides, for example inverted thymidine or inverted adenine (for example see Takei, et al., 2002. JBC 277(26):23800-06).

The term “unconventional moiety” as used herein refers to non-nucleotide moieties including an abasic moiety, an inverted abasic moiety, a hydrocarbon (alkyl) moiety and derivatives thereof, and further includes a deoxyribonucleotide, a modified deoxyribonucleotide, a mirror nucleotide (L-DNA or L-RNA), a non-base pairing nucleotide analog and a nucleotide joined to an adjacent nucleotide by a 2′-5′ internucleotide phosphate bond; bridged nucleic acids including LNA and ethylene bridged nucleic acids, linkage modified (e.g. PACE) and base modified nucleotides as well as additional moieties explicitly disclosed herein as unconventional moieties.

As used herein, the term “inhibit”, “down-regulate”, or “reduce” with respect to gene expression means the expression of the gene, or level of RNA molecules or equivalent RNA molecules encoding one or more proteins or protein subunits (e.g., mRNA), or activity of one or more proteins or protein subunits, is reduced below that observed in the absence of an inhibitory factor (such as a nucleic acid molecule, e.g., an siNA, for example having structural features as described herein); for example the expression may be reduced to 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 5% or less than that observed in the absence of an inhibitor.

An siNA nucleic acid molecule can be assembled from two separate polynucleotide strands, where one strand is the sense strand and the other is the antisense strand in which the antisense and sense strands are self-complementary (i.e. each strand includes nucleotide sequence that is complementary to nucleotide sequence in the other strand); such as where the antisense strand and sense strand form a duplex or double stranded structure having any length and structure as described herein for nucleic acid molecules as provided, for example wherein the double stranded region (duplex region) is about 17 to about 40 (e.g., about 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 or 40 base pairs); the antisense strand includes nucleotide sequence that is complementary to nucleotide sequence in a target nucleic acid molecule (i.e., RhoA or TLR4 mRNA) or a portion thereof and the sense strand includes nucleotide sequence corresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence or a portion thereof (e.g., about 17 to about 49 or more nucleotides of the nucleic acid molecules herein are complementary to the target nucleic acid or a portion thereof).

In certain aspects and embodiments a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., a siNA molecule) provided herein may be a “RISC length” molecule or may be a Dicer substrate as described in more detail below.

An siNA nucleic acid molecule may include separate sense and antisense sequences or regions, where the sense and antisense regions are covalently linked by nucleotide or non-nucleotide linkers molecules as is known in the art, or are alternately non-covalently linked by ionic interactions, hydrogen bonding, van der Waals interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and/or stacking interactions. Nucleic acid molecules may include a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to nucleotide sequence of a target gene. Nucleic acid molecules may interact with nucleotide sequence of a target gene in a manner that causes inhibition of expression of the target gene.

Alternatively, an siNA nucleic acid molecule is assembled from a single polynucleotide, where the self-complementary sense and antisense regions of the nucleic acid molecules are linked by means of a nucleic acid based or non-nucleic acid-based linker(s) for example to form a “hairpin” structure as is well known in the art). Such siNA nucleic acid molecules can be a polynucleotide with a duplex, asymmetric duplex, hairpin or asymmetric hairpin secondary structure, having self-complementary sense and antisense regions, wherein the antisense region includes nucleotide sequence that is complementary to nucleotide sequence in a separate target nucleic acid molecule or a portion thereof and the sense region having nucleotide sequence corresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence (e.g., a sequence of RhoA and TLR4 mRNA). Such siNA nucleic acid molecules can be a circular single-stranded polynucleotide having two or more loop structures and a stem comprising self-complementary sense and antisense regions, wherein the antisense region includes nucleotide sequence that is complementary to nucleotide sequence in a target nucleic acid molecule or a portion thereof and the sense region having nucleotide sequence corresponding to the target nucleic acid sequence or a portion thereof, and wherein the circular polynucleotide can be processed either in vivo or in vitro to generate an active nucleic acid molecule capable of mediating RNAi.

The following nomenclature is often used in the art to describe lengths and overhangs of siNA molecules and may be used throughout the specification and Examples. Names given to duplexes indicate the length of the oligomers and the presence or absence of overhangs.

Chemical Modifications of Nucleic Acid Molecules

In certain aspects and embodiments, nucleic acid molecules (e.g., siNA molecules) as provided herein include one or more modifications (or chemical modifications). In certain embodiments, such modifications include any changes to a nucleic acid molecule or polynucleotide that would make the molecule different than a standard ribonucleotide or RNA molecule (i.e., that includes standard adenine, cytosine, uracil, or guanine moieties); which may be referred to as an “unmodified” ribonucleotide or unmodified ribonucleic acid. Traditional DNA bases and polynucleotides having a 2′-deoxy sugar represented by adenine, cytosine, thymine, or guanine moieties may be referred to as an “unmodified deoxyribonucleotide” or “unmodified deoxyribonucleic acid”; accordingly, the term “unmodified nucleotide” or “unmodified nucleic acid” as used herein refers to an “unmodified ribonucleotide” or “unmodified ribonucleic acid” unless there is a clear indication to the contrary. Such modifications can be in the nucleotide sugar, nucleotide base, nucleotide phosphate group and/or the phosphate backbone of a polynucleotide.

In certain embodiments modifications as disclosed herein may be used to increase RNAi activity of a molecule and/or to increase the in vivo exonuclease and or endonuclease stability of the molecules, particularly the stability in serum, and/or to increase bioavailability of the molecules. Non-limiting examples of modifications include without limitation internucleotide or internucleoside linkages; nucleobase modifications and sugar modifications.

Modified nucleotides include those having a Northern conformation including locked nucleic acid (LNA) nucleotides (e.g., 2′-O, 4′-C-methylene-(D-ribofuranosyl) nucleotides); 2′-methoxyethoxy (MOE) nucleotides; 2′-methyl-thio-ethyl, 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro nucleotides, 2′-deoxy-2′-chloro nucleotides, 2′-azido nucleotides, and 2′-O-methyl nucleotides. Locked nucleic acids, or LNA's are described, for example, in Elman et al., 2005; Kurreck et al., 2002; Crinelli et al., 2002; Braasch and Corey, 2001; Bondensgaard et al., 2000; Wahlestedt et al., 2000; and International Patent Publication Nos. WO 00/47599, WO 99/14226, and WO 98/39352 and WO 2004/083430. In one embodiment, an LNA is incorporated at the 5′ terminus of the sense strand.

Chemical modifications also include unlocked nucleic acids, or UNAs, which are non-nucleotide, acyclic analogues, in which the C2′-C3′ bond of the sugar is not present (although UNAs are not truly nucleotides, they are expressly included in the scope of “modified” nucleotides or nucleic acids or unconventional moieties as contemplated herein). In particular embodiments, nucleic acid molecules with an overhang may be modified to have UNAs at the overhang positions (i.e., 2 nucleotide overhand). In other embodiments, UNAs are included at the 3′- or 5′-ends. A UNA may be located anywhere along a nucleic acid strand, i.e. at position 7. Nucleic acid molecules may contain one or more than UNA. Exemplary UNAs are disclosed in Nucleic Acids Symposium Series No. 52 p. 133-134 (2008). In some embodiments, a nucleic acid molecule as described herein that has a 3′-overhang include one or two UNAs in the 3′ overhang. In some embodiments a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., a siNA molecule) as described herein includes a UNA (for example one UNA) in the antisense strand; for example in position 6 or position 7 of the antisense strand. Chemical modifications also include non-pairing nucleotide analogs, for example as disclosed herein. Chemical modifications further include unconventional moieties as disclosed herein.

Chemical modifications to the sugar include six membered “six membered ring nucleotide analogs.” Examples of six-membered ring nucleotide analogs are disclosed in Allart, et al (Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 1998, 17:1523-1526; and Perez-Perez, et al., 1996, Bioorg. and Medicinal Chem Letters 6:1457-1460) Oligonucleotides including 6-membered ring nucleotide analogs including hexitol and altritol nucleotide monomers are disclosed in International patent application publication No. WO 2006/047842.

Chemical modifications also include “mirror” nucleotides which have a reversed chirality as compared to normal naturally occurring nucleotide; that is a mirror nucleotide may be an “L-nucleotide” analogue of naturally occurring D-nucleotide (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,858). Mirror nucleotides may further include at least one sugar or base modification and/or a backbone modification, for example, as described heron, such as a phosphorothioate or phosphonate moiety. U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,858 discloses nucleic acid catalysts including at least one L-nucleotide substitution. Mirror nucleotides include for example L-DNA (L-deoxyriboadenosine-3′-phosphate (mirror dA); L-deoxyribocytidine-3′-phosphate (mirror dC); L-deoxyriboguanosine-3′-phosphate (mirror dG); L-deoxyribothymidine-3′-phosphate (mirror image dT)) and L-RNA (L-riboadenosine-3′-phosphate (mirror rA); L-ribocytidine-3′-phosphate (mirror rC); L-riboguanosine-3′-phosphate (mirror rG); L-ribouracil-3′-phosphate (mirror dU).

In some embodiments, modified ribonucleotides include modified deoxyribonucleotides, for example 5′OMe DNA (5-methyl-deoxyriboguanosine-3′-phosphate) which may be useful as a nucleotide in the 5′ terminal position (position number 1); PACE (deoxyriboadenine 3′ phosphonoacetate, deoxyribocytidine 3′ phosphonoacetate, deoxyriboguanosine 3′ phosphonoacetate, deoxyribothymidine 3′ phosphonoacetate.

Modifications may be present in one or more strands of a nucleic acid molecule disclosed herein, e.g., in the sense strand, the antisense strand, or both strands. In certain embodiments, the antisense strand may include modifications and the sense strand my only include unmodified RNA.

Nucleobases

Nucleobases of the nucleic acid disclosed herein may include unmodified ribonucleotides (purines and pyrimidines) such as adenine, guanine, cytosine, uridine. The nucleobases in one or both strands can be modified with natural and synthetic nucleobases such as, thymine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, inosine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, any “universal base” nucleotides; 2-propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl uracil and cytosine, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, amino, thiol, thioalkyl, hydroxyl and other 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5-trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines, 7-methylguanine, deazapurines, heterocyclic substituted analogs of purines and pyrimidines, e.g., aminoethyoxy phenoxazine, derivatives of purines and pyrimidines (e.g., 1-alkyl-, 1-alkenyl-, heteroaromatic- and 1-alkynyl derivatives) and tautomers thereof, 8-oxo-N⁶-methyladenine, 7-diazaxanthine, 5-methylcytosine, 5-methyluracil, 5-(1-propynyl)uracil, 5-(1-propynyl) cytosine and 4,4-ethanocytosine). Other examples of suitable bases include non-purinyl and non-pyrimidinyl bases such as 2-aminopyridine and triazines.

Sugar Moieties

Sugar moieties in nucleic acid disclosed herein may include 2′-hydroxyl-pentofuranosyl sugar moiety without any modification. Alternatively, sugar moieties can be modified such as, 2′-deoxy-pentofuranosyl sugar moiety, D-ribose, hexose, modification at the 2′ position of the pentofuranosyl sugar moiety such as 2′-O-alkyl (including 2′-O-methyl and 2′-O-ethyl), i.e., 2′-alkoxy, 2′-amino, 2′-O-allyl, 2′-S-alkyl, 2′-halogen (including 2′-fluoro, chloro, and bromo), 2′-methoxyethoxy, 2′-O-methoxyethyl, 2′-O-2-methoxyethyl, 2′-allyloxy (—OCH₂CH═CH₂), 2′-propargyl, 2′-propyl, ethynyl, ethenyl, propenyl, CF, cyano, imidazole, carboxylate, thioate, C₁ to C₁₀ lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, alkaryl or aralkyl, OCF₃, OCN, O-, S-, or N-alkyl; O-, S, or N-alkenyl; SOCH₃; SO₂CH₃; ONO₂; NO₂, N₃; heterozycloalkyl; heterozycloalkaryl; aminoalkylamino; polyalkylamino or substituted silyl.

Alkyl group includes saturated aliphatic groups, including straight-chain alkyl groups (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, etc.), branched-chain alkyl groups (isopropyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, etc.), cycloalkyl (alicyclic) groups (cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl), alkyl substituted cycloalkyl groups, and cycloalkyl substituted alkyl groups. In certain embodiments, a straight chain or branched chain alkyl has 6 or fewer carbon atoms in its backbone (e.g., C₁-C₆ for straight chain, C₃-C₆ for branched chain), and more preferably 4 or fewer. Likewise, preferred cycloalkyls may have from 3-8 carbon atoms in their ring structure, and more preferably have 5 or 6 carbons in the ring structure. The term C₁-C₆ includes alkyl groups containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The alkyl group can be substituted alkyl group such as alkyl moieties having substituents replacing a hydrogen on one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone. Such substituents can include, for example, alkenyl, alkynyl, halogen, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, carboxylate, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, alkylthiocarbonyl, alkoxyl, phosphate, phosphonato, phosphinato, cyano, amino (including alkyl amino, dialkylamino, arylamino, diarylamino, and alkylarylamino), acylamino (including alkylcarbonylamino, arylcarbonylamino, carbamoyl and ureido), amidino, imino, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, arylthio, thiocarboxylate, sulfates, alkylsulfinyl, sulfonato, sulfamoyl, sulfonamido, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, azido, heterocyclyl, alkylaryl, or an aromatic or heteroaromatic moiety.

Alkoxy group includes substituted and unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl groups covalently linked to an oxygen atom. Examples of alkoxy groups include methoxy, ethoxy, isopropyloxy, propoxy, butoxy, and pentoxy groups. Examples of substituted alkoxy groups include halogenated alkoxy groups. The alkoxy groups can be substituted with groups such as alkenyl, alkynyl, halogen, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, carboxylate, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, alkylthiocarbonyl, alkoxyl, phosphate, phosphonato, phosphinato, cyano, amino (including alkyl amino, dialkylamino, arylamino, diarylamino, and alkylarylamino), acylamino (including alkylcarbonylamino, arylcarbonylamino, carbamoyl and ureido), amidino, imino, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, arylthio, thiocarboxylate, sulfates, alkylsulfinyl, sulfonato, sulfamoyl, sulfonamido, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, azido, heterocyclyl, alkylaryl, or an aromatic or heteroaromatic moieties. Examples of halogen substituted alkoxy groups include, but are not limited to, fluoromethoxy, difluoromethoxy, trifluoromethoxy, chloromethoxy, dichloromethoxy, trichloromethoxy, etc.

In some embodiments, the pentafuronosyl ring may be replaced with acyclic derivatives lacking the C2′-C3′-bond of the pentafuronosyl ring. For example, acyclonucleotides may substitute a 2-hydroxyethoxymethyl group for-the 2′-deoxyribofuranosyl sugar normally present in dNMPs.

Halogens include fluorine, bromine, chlorine, iodine.

Backbone

The nucleoside subunits of the nucleic acid disclosed herein may be covalently linked to each other by phosphodiester bonds. The phosphodiester bond may be optionally substituted with other linkages. For example, phosphorothioate, thiophosphate-D-ribose entities, triester, thioate, 2′-5′ bridged backbone (may also be referred to as 5′-2′), PACE, 3′-(or -5′)deoxy-3′-(or -5′)thio-phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate, phosphoroselenates, 3′-(or -5′)deoxy phosphinates, borano phosphates, 3′-(or -5′)deoxy-3′-(or 5′-)amino phosphoramidates, hydrogen phosphonates, phosphonates, borano phosphate esters, phosphoramidates, alkyl or aryl phosphonates and phosphotriester modifications, and nonphosphorus containing linkages for example, carbonate, carbamate, silyl, sulfur, sulfonate, sulfonamide, formacetal, thioformacetyl, oxime, methyleneimino, methylenemethylimino, methylenehydrazo, methylenedimethylhydrazo and methyleneoxymethylimino linkages.

Nucleic acid molecules disclosed herein may include a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) backbone. The PNA backbone is includes repeating N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine units linked by peptide bonds. The various bases such as purine, pyrimidine, natural and synthetic bases are linked to the backbone by methylene carbonyl bonds.

Terminal Phosphates

Modifications can be made at terminal phosphate groups. Non-limiting examples of different stabilization chemistries can be used, e.g., to stabilize the 3′-end of nucleic acid sequences, including (1) [3-3′]-inverted deoxyribose; (2) deoxyribonucleotide; (3) [5′-3′]-3′-deoxyribonucleotide; (4) [5′-3′]-ribonucleotide; (5) [5′-3′]-3′-O-methyl ribonucleotide; (6) 3′-glyceryl; (7) [3′-5′]-3′-deoxyribonucleotide; (8) [3′-3′]-deoxyribonucleotide; (9) [5′-2′]-deoxyribonucleotide; and (10) [5-3′]-dideoxyribonucleotide.

Nucleic acid molecules disclosed herein (e.g., siNA, siRNA molecules) may be blunt-ended on both sides, have overhangs on both sides or a combination of blunt and overhang ends. Overhangs may occur on either the 5′- or 3′-end of the sense or antisense strand.

5′- and/or 3′-ends of double stranded nucleic acid molecules (e.g., siNA) may be blunt ended or have an overhang. The 5′-end may be blunt ended and the 3′-end has an overhang in either the sense strand or the antisense strand. In other embodiments, the 3′-end may be blunt ended and the 5′-end has an overhang in either the sense strand or the antisense strand. In yet other embodiments, both the 5′- and 3′-end are blunt ended or both the 5′- and 3′-ends have overhangs.

The 5′- and/or 3′-end of one or both strands of the nucleic acid may include a free hydroxyl group and/or a phosphate group. The 5′- and/or 3′-end of any nucleic acid molecule strand may be modified to include a chemical modification. Such modification may stabilize nucleic acid molecules, e.g., the 3′-end may have increased stability due to the presence of the nucleic acid molecule modification.

Nucleic acid molecules (e.g., siNA, siRNA molecules) disclosed herein may include modified nucleotides as a percentage of the total number of nucleotides present in the nucleic acid molecule. As such, a nucleic acid molecule may include about 5% to about 100% modified nucleotides (e.g., about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100% modified nucleotides). The actual percentage of modified nucleotides present in a given nucleic acid molecule will depend on the total number of nucleotides present in the nucleic acid. If the nucleic acid molecule is single stranded, the percent modification can be based upon the total number of nucleotides present in the single stranded nucleic acid molecule. Likewise, if the nucleic acid molecule is double stranded, the percent modification can be based upon the total number of nucleotides present in the sense strand, antisense strand, or both the sense and antisense strands.

A chemically-modified short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecule may include an antisense region, wherein any (e.g., one or more or all) pyrimidine nucleotides present in the antisense region are 2′-O-Methoxy or 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro pyrimidine nucleotides.

Modification Patterns and Alternating Modifications of Nucleic Acid Compounds

Nucleic acid molecules (e.g., siNA molecules) provided herein may have patterns of modified and unmodified nucleic acids. A pattern of modification of the nucleotides in a contiguous stretch of nucleotides may be a modification contained within a single nucleotide or group of nucleotides that are covalently linked to each other via standard phosphodiester bonds or, at least partially, through phosphorothioate bonds. Accordingly, a “pattern” as contemplated herein, does not necessarily need to involve repeating units, although it may. Examples of modification patterns that may be used in conjunction with the nucleic acid molecules (e.g., siNA molecules) provided herein include those disclosed in Giese, U.S. Pat. No. 7,452,987. For example, nucleic acid molecules (e.g., siNA molecules) provided herein include those having modification patterns such as, similar to, or the same as, the patterns shown diagrammatically in U.S. Pat. No. 7,452,987.

In some double stranded nucleic acid molecules include a 2′-O-methyl (2′-OMethoxy; 2′-OCH3) modified nucleotide and a non-modified nucleotide, preferably a nucleotide which is not 2′-O-methyl modified, are incorporated on both strands in an alternating fashion, resulting in a pattern of alternating 2′-O-methyl modified nucleotides and ribonucleotides that are either unmodified or at least do not include a 2′-O-methyl modification. In certain embodiments, the same sequence of 2′-O-methyl modification and non-modification exists on the second strand; in other embodiments the alternating 2′-O-methyl modified nucleotides are only present in the sense strand and are not present in the antisense strand; and in yet other embodiments the alternating 2′-O-methyl modified nucleotides are only present in the sense strand and are not present in the antisense strand. In certain embodiments, there is a phase shift between the two strands such that the 2′-O-methyl modified nucleotide on the first strand base pairs with a non-modified nucleotide(s) on the second strand and vice versa.

Exemplary Modification Locations and Patterns of Nucleic Acid Compounds

While exemplary patterns are provided in more detail below, all permutations of patterns with of all possible characteristics of the nucleic acid molecules disclosed herein and those known in the art are contemplated (e.g., characteristics include, but are not limited to, length of sense strand, length of antisense strand, length of duplex region, length of hangover, whether one or both ends of a double stranded nucleic acid molecule is blunt or has an overhang, location of modified nucleic acid, number of modified nucleic acids, types of modifications, whether a double overhang nucleic acid molecule has the same or different number of nucleotides on the overhang of each side, whether a one or more than one type of modification is used in a nucleic acid molecule, and number of contiguous modified/unmodified nucleotides). With respect to all detailed examples provided below, while the duplex region is shown to be 19 nucleotides, the nucleic acid molecules provided herein can have a duplex region ranging from 1 to 49 nucleotides in length as each strand of a duplex region can independently be 17-49 nucleotides in length Exemplary patterns are provided herein.

The siRNA molecules of the present invention may be delivered to the target tissue by direct application of the naked molecules prepared with a carrier or a diluent.

The term “naked siRNA” refers to siRNA molecules that are free from any delivery vehicle that acts to assist, promote or facilitate entry into the cell, including viral sequences, viral particles, liposome formulations, lipofectin or precipitating agents and the like. For example, siRNA in PBS is “naked siRNA”.

However, in some embodiments the siRNA molecules of the invention are delivered in liposome formulations and lipofectin formulations and the like and can be prepared by methods well known to those skilled in the art. Such methods are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,593,972, 5,589,466, and 5,580,859, which are herein incorporated by reference.

Particular siRNA molecules used herein include:

RHOA_(—)4:

The unmodified sequence of the molecule is: Sense 5′>3′: GCCACTTAATGTATGTTAC and Antisense 5′>3′: GTAACATACATTAAGTGGC. The chemically modified compound is as follows: Sense: 5′ rG;mC;rC;mA;rC;mU;rU;mA;rA;mU;rG;mU;rA;mU;rG;mU;rU;mA;rC AntiSense: 5′ mG;rU;mA;rA;mC;rA;mU;rA;mC;rA;mU;rU;mA;rA;mG;rU;mG;rG;mC

TLR4_(—)4:

The unmodified sequence of the molecule is: Sense 5′>3′: GAGTTCAGGTTAACATATA Antisense 5′>3′: TATATGTTAACCTGAACTC. The chemically modified compound is as follows: Sense: 5′ rG;mA;rG;mU;rU;mC;rA;mG;rG;mU;rU;mA;rA;mC;rA;mU;rA;mU;rA AntiSense: 5′ mU;rA;mU;rA;mU;rG;mU;rU;mA;rA;mC;rC;mU;rG;mA;rA;mC;rU;mC wherein “r” preceding a ribonucleotide A, C, G or U denotes an unmodified ribonucleotide and “m” denotes a 2′-OCH3 modified ribonucleotide.

Additional siRNAs directed towards relevant target genes are disclosed in PCT patent application publication No. WO2008/050329 and WO2009/044392, assigned to an assignee of the present invention, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Indications Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

In one embodiment the injury to the CNS is Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) or myelopathy. SCI or myelopathy, is a disturbance of the spinal cord that results in loss of sensation and/or mobility. The two common types of spinal cord injury are due to trauma and disease. Traumatic injury can be due to automobile accidents, falls, gunshot, diving accidents inter alia, and diseases that can affect the spinal cord include polio, spina bifida, tumors, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) syringomyelia, transverse myelitis and Friedreich's ataxia.

In various embodiments, the compounds and methods disclosed herein are used for treating or preventing the damage caused by spinal-cord injury especially spinal cord trauma caused by motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries, industrial accidents, gunshot wounds, spinal cord trauma caused by spine weakening (such as from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis) or if the spinal canal protecting the spinal cord has become too narrow (spinal stenosis) due to the normal aging process, direct damage that occur when the spinal cord is pulled, pressed sideways, or compressed, damage to the spinal-cord following bleeding, fluid accumulation, and swelling inside the spinal cord or outside the spinal cord (but within the spinal canal). The otic pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are also used for treating or preventing the damage caused by spinal-cord injury due to disease such as polio or spina bifida. Other indications include hyperalgesia and allodynia.

Allodynia

Allodynia is “other pain”, defined as pain from stimuli that are not normally painful. The pain may occur other than in the area stimulated.

Allodynia and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Chronic pain is one of the more frequent and troublesome sequelae of SCI, often interfering with the effective rehabilitation of the patient. In addition to the chronic pain syndromes seen in the non-SCI population, e.g., migraine and postherpetic neuralgia, patients with SCI may also suffer from pain syndromes unique to SCI. The reported prevalence of chronic SCI pain varies between 25% and 94%, with almost one-third of these patients experiencing severe pain (Bonica J J. Introduction: semantic, epidemiologic, and educational issues. In: Casey K L, ed. Pain and central nervous system disease: the central pain syndromes. New York: Raven Press, 1991:13-29; Siddall P J, Taylor D A, McClelland J M, Rutkowski S B, Cousins M J. Pain report and the relationship of pain to physical factors in the first six months following spinal cord injury. Pain 1999; 81:187-97; Gerhart K A, Johnson R L, Whiteneck G G. Health and psychosocial issues of individuals with incomplete and resolving spinal cord injuries. Paraplegia 1992; 30:282-7). Several studies have reported the prevalence of the various types of SCI pain. Musculoskeletal pain was the most common type experienced at 6 mo after injury (40%) (Siddall P J, Taylor D A, McClelland J M, Rutkowski S B, Cousins M J. Pain report and the relationship of pain to physical factors in the first six months following spinal cord injury. Pain 1999; 81:187-97) and at 5 yr after SCI (59%) (Siddall P J, McClelland J M, Rutkowski S B, Cousins M J. A longitudinal study of the prevalence and characteristics of pain in the first 5 years following spinal cord injury. Pain 2003; 103:249-57). An increase in the prevalence of at-level and below-level neuropathic pain has likewise been observed more than 5 yr after SCI. Variables that influence the development of SCI pain remain unclear. Factors such as the level of the injury, completeness of the injury, cause of injury, and psychosocial factors have been considered (Siddall P J, Yezierski R P, Loeser J D Taxonomy and epidemiology of spinal cord injury pain. In: Yezierski R P, Burchiel K J, eds. Spinal cord injury pain: assessment, mechanisms, management. Progress in Pain Research and Management. Vol. 23 Seattle: IASP Press, 2002:9-24). Musculoskeletal pain was more common in patients with thoracic level injuries and was reported to be more prevalent in those who had surgical intervention 2 wk after SCI (Sved P, Siddall P J, McClelland J M, Cousins M J. Relationship between surgery and pain following spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 1997; 35:526-30). Neuropathic pain that was associated with allodynia was observed to be more common in patients with incomplete spinal cord lesions, in cervical than thoracic cord injuries, and in central cord syndrome (Siddall P J, Taylor D A, McClelland J M, Rutkowski S B, Cousins M J. Pain report and the relationship of pain to physical factors in the first six months following spinal cord injury. Pain 1999; 81:187-97).

Post-SCI Pain Types

In addition to the four major types of SCI pain under Tier 2, there are other recognized pain conditions, most of which are under Tier 3 in the International Association for the Study of Pain Taxonomy (Siddall P J, Yezierski R P, Loeser J D. Pain following spinal cord injury: clinical features, prevalence, and taxonomy. International Association for the Study of Pain Newsletter 2000; 3:3-7). These need to be clinically identified so that appropriate treatment may be instituted.

Musculoskeletal Pain

Mechanical instability of the spine: This type of pain is brought about by disruption of ligaments/joints or fractures of bone, resulting in instability of the spine. It occurs early after injury and is located in the region of the spine close to the site of SCI. It is related to position, worsened by activity and decreased by rest. Diagnosis is aided by radiographs, computerized tomography or MRI to identify the nature and site of pathology.

Muscle spasm pain: Spasticity is defined as a motor disorder characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in the tonic stretch reflexes (muscle tone) with exaggerated tendon reflexes, resulting from hyperexcitability of the stretch reflex. An imbalance in any of the numerous excitatory and inhibitory modulatory synaptic influences on the a motor neuron and muscle results in hyperactivity of the stretch reflex arc. This pain type usually occurs late after SCI, and is often seen in people with incomplete SCI.

At-Level Neuropathic Pain

Segmental deafferentation/Girdle or Border or transitional zone pain: This is a variation of at-level neuropathic pain that occurs within a band of two to four segments above or below the level of SCI. It often occurs on the border of normal sensation and anesthetic skin.

Syringomyelia: Pain due to a syrinx (i.e., an abnormal cyst in the spinal cord) often occurs with a delayed onset, a mean of 6 yr. The damage to the central part of the spinal cord with cervical injuries results in the central cord syndrome characterized by pain and weakness of the arms and relatively strong but spastic leg function. The pain of syringomyelia is sometimes described as a constant burning pain with allodynia.

Below-Level Neuropathic Pain

Central dysaesthesia syndrome/central pain/deafferentation pain: pain diffusely located caudal to the level of SCI, i.e., over the entire body from the shoulders to the feet, typical of below-level neuropathic pain. The pain may be associated with hyperalgesia and may gradually worsen over time. It occurs with spontaneous and/or evoked episodes, and is often worsened by infections, sudden noise, and jarring movements.

Pathophysiology and Mechanisms of SCI Pain

Pain associated with SCI is a consequence of both injury characterized by pathological changes from mechanical trauma and vascular compromise of the cord parenchyma. It is influenced by the nature of the lesion, the neurological structures damaged, and the secondary pathophysiological changes of the surviving tissue. There are at least three proposed basic mechanisms underlying SCI pain: increased neuronal hyperexcitability, reduced inhibition, and neuronal reorganization or plasticity.

Increased Neuronal Hyperexcitability

An initial consequence of SCI after traumatic or ischemic SCI is the brief but dramatic increase of excitatory amino acids, which triggers an injury cascade of secondary pathological changes. The major components of this spinal “central injury cascade” include anatomical, neurochemical, excitotoxic, and inflammatory events that collectively interact to increase the responsiveness of the neurons at the level of injury, resulting in the generation of the clinical symptoms of allodynia and hyperalgesia (Yezierski R P. Pathophysiology and animal models of spinal cord injury pain. In: Yezierski R P, Burchiel K J, eds. Spinal cord injury pain: assessment, mechanisms, management. Progress in pain research and management. Vol. 23. Seattle: IASP Press, 2002:117-36).

Existing Treatment Options Pharmacological Treatment

The first-line medications include systemic lidocaine, gabapentin, and pregabalin. Second-line medications include tricyclic antidepressants, alone or in combination with antiepileptic drugs. Third-line medications include ketamine, opioids, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, other antiepileptic drugs, intrathecal morphine with clonidine, and intrathecal baclofen.

Patients with localized pain symptoms may respond to topical lidocaine therapy. In diffuse and complex syndromes, initial drug therapy with gabapentin or nortriptyline is commenced at the lowest dose and then titrated gradually to desired analgesic effect with the least adverse effects. Incomplete or partial response to a drug after an adequate trial may be augmented by the addition of another drug with a different mechanism of action.

Neuroaugmentative Treatment

Neuroaugmentative treatment options for SCI pain include transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, and deep brain stimulation, all of which have little evidence of efficacy.

Surgical Treatment

Of the many types of SCI pain, only a few can be successfully ameliorated with surgery. These include spinal fusion for stabilization of the spine, surgical decompression of nerve root compression, and drainage and shunting for syrinx, which may require subsequent detethering of the spinal cord. Other surgical treatments, including cordotomy, cordectomy, myelotomy, and dorsal root entry zone lesion (particularly for at-level neuropathic pain), have limited evidence of efficacy.

Spinal Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation therapy is one of the principal components of treatment to restore functional independence and improve the quality of life of patients with SCI. Yet there is very limited evidence demonstrating the efficacy of various rehabilitative treatments. Physical treatment includes exercise and hydrotherapy, postural reeducation, pressure relief, use of physical aids, such as crutches, orthotics and wheelchairs, and other physical modalities. Unfortunately, physical therapy does not help reduce neuropathic SCI pain.

Methods of Treatment

In one aspect the present invention provides a method of treating a disease, a disorder or an injury of the CNS in a subject in need thereof, which comprises administering directly to the subject's spinal cord at least one oligonucleotide compound directed to a target gene associated with the disease, the disorder or the injury of the CNS, via intraparenchymal delivery or lumbar puncture in an amount and over a period of time effective to treat the subject. Particular diseases, disorders and injuries are disclosed herein and include neuropathy, including diabetes associated neuropathy, hyperalgesia and allodynia.

Examples of target genes are disclosed herein. RhoA and TLR4 are particular target genes useful in carrying out the invention.

The treatment of any of neuropathy, including diabetes associated neuropathy, hyperalgesia and allodynia may require long term care and pain management modalities. The goal of pain management is to provide symptom relief and improve an individual's level of functioning in daily activities.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of attenuating expression of a target gene in a subject suffering from a disease, a disorder or an injury of the CNS, which comprises administering directly to the subject's spinal cord at least one oligonucleotide compound directed to a target gene associated with the disease, the disorder or the injury of the CNS, via intraparenchymal delivery or lumbar puncture in an amount and over a period of time effective to attenuate expression of the target gene. In some embodiments the methods further include at least one pharmacological agent, the disorder or the injury of the CNS, via intraparenchymal delivery or lumbar puncture in an amount and over a period of time effective to attenuate expression of the target gene.

In some embodiments the pharmacological agent is selected from a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, anti-inflammatory agent, an antibiotic, an anti-viral agent, a free radical scavenger, an anti-cancer agent and a chemotherapeutic agent.

In some embodiments the disease disorder or injury of the CNS is associated with expression of a gene selected from a nocireceptor, APP, MAPT, SOD1, BACE1, CASP3, TGM2, NFE2L3, TARDBP, ADRB1, CAMK2A, CBLN1, CDK5R1, GABRA1, MAPK10, NOS1, NPTX2, NRGN, NTS, PDCD2, PDE4D, PENK, SYT1, TTR, FUS, LRDD, CYBA, ATF3, ATF6, CASP2, CASP1, CASP7, CASP8, CASP9, HRK, C1QBP, BNIP3, MAPK8, MAPK14, Rac1, GSK3B, P2RX7, TRPM2, PARG, CD38, STEAP4, BMP2, GJA1, TYROBP, CTGF, ANXA2, RHOA, DUOX1, RTP801, RTP801L, NOX4, NOX1, NOX2 (gp91pho, CYBB), NOX5, DUOX2, NOXO1, NOXO2 (p47phox, NCF1), NOXA1, NOXA2 (p67phox, NCF2), p53 (TP53), HTRA2, KEAP1, SHC1, ZNHIT1, LGALS3, HI95, SOX9, ASPP1, ASPP2, CTSD, CAPNS1, FAS and FASLG, NOGO and NOGO-R; TLR1, TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, IL1bR, MYD88, TICAM, TIRAP, HSP47. Table A, hereinbelow, provides the gene identifier numbers (GI) and accession numbers for mRNA associated with each target gene.

Target No. gene gi and accession numbers and full name 1 APP > GIl41406053lreflNM_000484.2l Homo sapiens amyloid beta (A4) precursor protein (APP), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl41406054lreflNM_201413.1l Homo sapiens amyloid beta (A4) precursor protein (APP), transcript variant 2, mRNA > GIl41406056lreflNM_201414.1l Homo sapiens amyloid beta (A4) precursor protein (APP), transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl228008402lreflNM_001136129.2l Homo sapiens amyloid beta (A4) precursor protein (APP), transcript variant 5, mRNA >GIl228008401lreflNM_001136130.2l Homo sapiens amyloid beta (A4) precursor protein (APP), transcript variant 6, mRNA 2 MAPT >GIl189409155lreflNM_016835.3l Homo sapiens microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl189409158lreflNM_005910.4l(MAPT), transcript variant 2, mRNA >GIl189409156lreflNM_016834.3l(MAPT), transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl189409157lreflNM_016841.3l, (MAPT), transcript variant 4, mRNA >GIl294862254lreflNM_001123067.3l, (MAPT), transcript variant 5, mRNA >GIl294862257lreflNM_001123066.3l (MAPT), transcript variant 6, mRNA 3 SOD1 >GIl48762945lreflNM_000454.4l Homo sapiens superoxide dismutase 1, soluble (SOD1), mRNA 4 BACE1 >GIl46255011lreflNM_012104.3l Homo sapiens beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), transcript variant a, mRNA >GIl46255013lreflNM_138972.2l transcript variant b, mRNA >GIl46255012lreflNM_138971.2l transcript variant c, mRNA >GIl46255014lreflNM_138973.2l transcript variant d, mRNA 5 CASP3 >GIl73622122lreflNM_032991.2l Homo sapiens caspase 3, apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase (CASP3), transcript variant beta, mRNA >GIl73622121lreflNM_004346.3l, transcript variant alpha, mRNA 6 TGM2 > GIl39777596lreflNM_004613.2l Homo sapiens transglutaminase 2 (C polypeptide, protein-glutamine-gamma-glutamyltransferase) (TGM2), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl39777598lreflNM_198951.1l transcript variant 2, mRNA 7 NFE2L3 >GIl225735556lreflNM_004289.6l Homo sapiens nuclear factor (erythroid- derived 2)-like 3 (NFE2L3), mRNA 8 TARDBP >GIl42741653lreflNM_007375.3l Homo sapiens TAR DNA binding protein (TARDBP), mRNA 9 ADRB1 >GIl110349783lreflNM_000684.2l Homo sapiens adrenergic, beta-1-, receptor (ADRB1), mRNA 10 CAMK2A >GIl212549564lreflNM_015981.3l Homo sapiens calcium/calmodulin- dependent protein kinase II alpha (CAMK2A), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl212549565lreflNM_171825.2l (CAMK2A), transcript variant 2, mRNA 11 CBLN1 >GIl4757921lreflNM_004352.1l Homo sapiens cerebellin 1 precursor (CBLN1), mRNA 12 CDK5R1 >GIl34304373lreflNM_003885.2l Homo sapiens cyclin-dependent kinase 5, regulatory subunit 1 (p35) (CDK5R1), mRNA 13 GABRA1 >GIl189083722lreflNM_000806.5l Homo sapiens gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor, alpha 1 (GABRA1), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl189083723lreflNM_001127643.1l (GABRA1), transcript variant 2, mRNA >GIl189083725lreflNM_001127644.1l (GABRA1), transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl189083727lreflNM_001127645.1l (GABRA1), transcript variant 4, mRNA >GIl189083729lreflNM_001127646.1l (GABRA1), transcript variant 5, mRNA >GIl189083731lrefINM_001127647.1l (GABRA1), transcript variant 6, mRNA >GIl189083733lreflNM_001127648.1l (GABRA1), transcript variant 7, mRNA 14 MAPK10 >GIl257467587lreflNM_002753.3l transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl257467594lreflNM_138982.2l (MAPK10), transcript variant 2, mRNA >GIl257467592lreflNM_138980.2l (MAPK10), transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl257467593lreflNM_138981.2l (MAPK10), transcript variant 4, mRNA 15 NOS1 >GIl194239671lreflNM_000620.2l Homo sapiens nitric oxide synthase 1 (neuronal) (NOS1), mRNA 16 NPTX2 >GIl223671935lreflNM_002523.2l Homo sapiens neuronal pentraxin II (NPTX2), mRNA 17 NRGN >GIl187131237lreflNM_006176.2l Homo sapiens neurogranin (protein kinase C substrate, RC3) (NRGN), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl187131238lreflNM_001126181.1l (NRGN), transcript variant 2, mRNA 18 NTS >GIl31563516lreflNM_006183.3l Homo sapiens neurotensin (NTS), mRNA 19 PDCD2 >GIl21735591lreflNM_002598.2l Homo sapiens programmed cell death 2 (PDCD2), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl21735593lreflNM_144781.1l (PDCD2), transcript variant 2, mRNA 20 PDE4D >GIl157277987lreflNM_001104631.1l Homo sapiens phosphodiesterase 4D, cAMP-specific (phosphodiesterase E3 dunce homolog, Drosophila) (PDE4D), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl157277986lreflNM_006203.4l (PDE4D), transcript variant 2, mRNA >GIl259906419lreflNM_001165899.1l (PDE4D), transcript variant 3, mRNA 21 PENK >GIl208879445lreflNM_001135690.1l Homo sapiens proenkephalin (PENK), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl208879444lreflNM_006211.3l (PENK), transcript variant 2, mRNA 22 SYT1 >GIl209447071lreflNM_005639.2l Homo sapiens synaptotagmin I (SYT1), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl209447069lreflNM_001135805.1l (SYT1), transcript variant 2, mRNA >GIl209447072lreflNM_001135806.1l (SYT1), transcript variant 3, mRNA 23 TTR >GIl221136767lreflNM_000371.3l Homo sapiens transthyretin (TTR), mRNA 24 FUS >GIl270265814lreflNM_004960.3l Homo sapiens fused in sarcoma (FUS), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl270265815lrefINR_028388.2l (FUS), transcript variant 2, non-coding RNA >GIl283135200lreflNM_001170634.1l (FUS), transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl283135172lreflNM_001170937.1 (FUS), transcript variant 4, mRNA 25 LRDD >GIl61742783lreflNM_145886.21 Homo sapiens leucine-rich repeats and death domain containing (LRDD), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl61742781lreflNM_018494.3l (LRDD), transcript variant 2, mRNA >GIl61742785lreflNM_145887.2l (LRDD), transcript variant 3, mRNA 26 CYBA >GIl68509913lreflNM_000101.2l Homo sapiens cytochrome b-245, alpha polypeptide (CYBA), mRNA 27 ATF3 >GIl71902534lreflNM_001674.2l Homo sapiens activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl95102484lreflNM_001030287.2l (ATF3), transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl95102482lreflNM_001040619.1l (ATF3), transcript variant 4, mRNA 28 CASP2 >GIl39995058lreflNM_032982.2l Homo sapiens caspase 2, apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase (neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally down- regulated 2) (CASP2), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl39995060lreflNM_032983.2l (CASP2), transcript variant 3, mRNA 29 HRK >GIl4504492lreflNM_003806.1l Homo sapiens harakiri, BCL2 interacting protein (contains only BH3 domain) (HRK), mRNA 30 C1QBP >GIl28872801lreflNM_001212.3l Homo sapiens complement component 1, q subcomponent binding protein (C1QBP), nuclear gene encoding mitochondrial protein, mRNA 31 BNIP3 >GIl7669480lreflNM_004052.2l Homo sapiens BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19kDa interacting protein 3 (BNIP3), nuclear gene encoding mitochondrial protein, mRNA 32 MAPK8 >GIl20986522lreflNM_139049.1l Homo sapiens mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl20986493lreflNM_002750.2l (MAPK8), transcript variant 2, mRNA >>GIl20986518lreflNM_139046.1l (MAPK8), transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl20986520lreflNM_139047.1l (MAPK8), transcript variant 4, mRNA 33 MAPK14 >GIl194578902lreflNM_001315.2l Homo sapiens mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl194578900lreflNM_139012.2l (MAPK14), transcript variant 2, mRNA >GIl194578904lreflNM_139013.2l (MAPK14), transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl194578901lreflNM_139014.2l (MAPK14), transcript variant 4, mRNA 34 Racl >GIl156071503lreflNM_006908.4l Homo sapiens ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (rho family, small GUP binding protein Rac1) (RAC1), transcript variant Rac1, mRNA >GIl156071511lreflNM_018890.3l (RAC1), transcript variant Rac1b, mRNA 35 GSK3B >GIl225903415lreflNM_002093.3l Homo sapiens glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3B), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl225903436lreflNM_001146156.1l (GSK3B), transcript variant 2, mRNA 36 P2RX7 >GIl34335273lreflNM_002562.4l Homo sapiens purinergic receptor P2X, ligand-gated ion channel, 7 (P2RX7), mRNA 37 TRPM2 >GIl67906812lreflNM_003307.3l Homo sapiens transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily M, member 2 (TRPM2), transcript variant L, mRNA 38 PARG >GIl70610135lreflNM_003631.2l Homo sapiens poly (ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG), mRNA 39 CD38 >GIl38454325lreflNM_001775.2l Homo sapiens CD38 molecule (CD38), mRNA 40 STEAP4 >GIl100815814lreflNM_024636.2l Homo sapiens STEAP family member 4 (STEAP4), mRNA 41 BMP2 >GIl80861484lreflNM_001200.2l Homo sapiens bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), mRNA 42 GJA1 >GIl122939163lreflNM_000165.3l Homo sapiens gap junction protein, alpha 1, 43kDa (GJA1), mRNA 43 TYROBP >GIl291045269lreflNM_003332.3l Homo sapiens TYRO protein tyrosine kinase binding protein (TYROBP), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl291045270lreflNM_198125.2l (TYROBP), transcript variant 2, mRNA >GIl291045271lreflNM_001173514.1l (TYROBP), transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl291045273lreflNM_001173515.1l (TYROBP), transcript variant 4, mRNA >GIl291045275lrefINR_033390.1l (TYROBP), transcript variant 5, non-coding RNA 44 CTGF >GIl98986335lreflNM_001901.2l Homo sapiens connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), mRNA 45 ANXA2 GIl216547999lreflNM_001002858.2l (ANXA2), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl50845385lreflNM_001002857.1l (ANXA2), transcript variant 2, mRNA >GIl50845389lreflNM_004039.2l (ANXA2), transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl216547993lreflNM_001136015.2l (ANXA2), transcript variant 4, mRNA 46 RHOA >gi:50593005/NM_001664.2 Homo sapiens ras homolog gene family, member A (RHOA), mRNA. 47 DUOX1 <SEQ_ID_NO:X>GIl28872749lreflNM_017434.3l Homo sapiens dual oxidase 1 (DUOX1), transcript variant 1, mRNA <SEQ_ID_NO:X>GIl28872750lreflNM_175940.1l (DUOX1), transcript variant 2, mRNA 48 RTP801 GIl56676369lreflNM_019058.2l Homo sapiens DNA-damage-inducible (DDIT4) transcript 4 (DDIT4), mRNA 49 RTP801L GIl307691170lreflNM_145244.3l Homo sapiens DNA-damage-inducible (DDIT4L) transcript 4-like (DDIT4L), mRNA 50 NOX4 >GIl219842344lreflNM_016931.3l Homo sapiens NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl219842345lreflNM_001143836.1l (NOX4), transcript variant 2, mRNA >GIl219842347lreflNM_001143837.1l (NOX4), transcript variant 3, mRNA 51 NOX1 >GIl148536872lreflNM_007052.4l Homo sapiens NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1), transcript variant NOH-1L, mRNA >GIl148536874lreflNM_013955.2l, transcript variant NOH-1Lv, mRNA 52 NOX2 >GIl6996020lreflNM_000397.2l Homo sapiens cytochrome b-245, beta (gp91pho, polypeptide (chronic granulomatous disease) (CYBB), mRNA CYBB) 53 NOX5 >GIl20127623lreflNM_024505.2l Homo sapiens NADPH oxidase, EF-hand calcium binding domain 5 (NOX5), mRNA 54 DUOX2 >GIl132566531lreflNM_014080.4l Homo sapiens dual oxidase 2 (DUOX2), mRNA 55 NOXO1 >GIl34222190lreflNM_144603.2l Homo sapiens NADPH oxidase organizer 1 (NOXO1), transcript variant a, mRNA >GIl41281827lreflNM_172168.1l transcript variant c, mRNA >GIl41281810lreflNM_172167.1l transcript variant b, mRNA 56 NOXO2 >GIl115298671lreflNM_000265.4l Homo sapiens neutrophil cytosolic factor 1 (p47phox, (NCF1), mRNA NCF1) 57 NOXA1 >GIl41393186lreflNM_006647.1l Homo sapiens NADPH oxidase activator 1 (NOXA1), mRNA 58 NOXA2 >GIl189083740lreflNM_000433.3l Homo sapiens neutrophil cytosolic factor 2 (p67phox, (NCF2), transcript variant 1, mRNA NCF2) >GIl189083741lreflNM_001127651.1l (NCF2), transcript variant 2, mRNA 59 p53 (TP53) >GIl187830767lreflNM_000546.4l Homo sapiens tumor protein p53 (TP53), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl187830776lreflNM_001126112.1l (TP53), transcript variant 2, mRNA >GIl187830854lreflNM_001126114.1l (TP53), transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl187830822lreflNM_001126113.1l (TP53), transcript variant 4, mRNA >GIl187830893lreflNM_001126115.1l (TP53), transcript variant 5, mRNA >GIl187830900lreflNM_001126116.1l (TP53), transcript variant 6, mRNA >GIl187830908lreflNM_001126117.1l (TP53), transcript variant 7, mRNA 60 HTRA2 >GIl73747817lreflNM_013247.4l Homo sapiens HtrA serine peptidase 2 (HTRA2), nuclear gene encoding mitochondrial protein, transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl73747818lreflNM_145074.2l transcript variant 2, mRNA 61 KEAP1 >GIl45269144lreflNM_203500.1l Homo sapiens kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl45269143lreflNM_012289.3l (SHC1), transcript variant 2, mRNA >GIl194239663lreflNM_001130040.1l (SHC1), transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl194239667lreflNM_001130041.1l (SHC1), transcript variant 4, mRNA 62 SHC1 >GIl52693920lreflNM_183001.3l Homo sapiens SHC (Src homology 2 domain containing) transforming protein 1 (SHC1), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl34147725lreflNM_003029.3l transcript variant 2, mRNA 63 ZNHIT1 >GIl37594439lreflNM_006349.2l Homo sapiens zinc finger, HIT type 1 (ZNHIT1), mRNA 64 LGALS3 >GIl115430222lreflNM_002306.2l Homo sapiens lectin, galactoside-binding, soluble, 3 (LGALS3), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl115430224lreflNR_003225.1l (LGALS3), variant 2, transcribed RNA >GIl294345474lreflNM_001177388.1l (LGALS3), transcript variant 3, mRNA 65 HI95 >GIl32454742lreflNM_031459.3l Homo sapiens sestrin 2 (SESN2), mRNA (SESN2) 66 SOX9 >GIl37704387lreflNM_000346.2l Homo sapiens SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 9 (campomelic dysplasia, autosomal sex-reversal) (SOX9), mRNA 67 ASPP1 >GIl121114286lreflNM_015316.2l Homo sapiens protein phosphatase 1, (PPP1R13B) regulatory (inhibitor) subunit 13B (PPP1R13B), mRNA 68 CTSD >GIl23110949lreflNM_001909.3l Homo sapiens cathepsin D (CTSD), mRNA 69 CAPNS1 >GIl51599152lreflNM_001749.2l Homo sapiens calpain, small subunit 1 (CAPNS1), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl51599150lreflNM_001003962.1l transcript variant 2, mRNA 70 FAS >GIl23510419lreflNM_000043.3l Homo sapiens Fas (TNF receptor superfamily, member 6) (FAS), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl23510420lreflNM_152871.1l transcript variant 2, mRNA >GIl23510422lreflNM_152872.1l transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl23510424lreflNM_152873.1l transcript variant 4, mRNA >GIl23510428lreflNM_152875.1l transcript variant 5, mRNA >GIl23510430lreflNM_152876.1l transcript variant 6, mRNA >GIl23510433lreflNM_152877.1l transcript variant 7, mRNA >GIl23510426lreflNM_152874.1l transcript variant 8, mRNA 71 FASLG >GIl4557328lreflNM_000639.1l Homo sapiens Fas ligand (TNF superfamily, member 6) (FASLG), mRNA 72 CAPN1 GIl12408655lreflNM_005186.2l Homo sapiens calpain 1, (mu/I) large subunit (CAPN1), mRNA 73 FADD > >GIl215820647lreflNM_003824.3l Homo sapiens Fas (TNFRSF6)-associated via death domain (FADD), mRNA 74 CASP1 > GIl73622114lreflNM_033292.2l Homo sapiens caspase 1, apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase (interleukin 1, beta, convertase) (CASP1), transcript variant alpha, mRNA > GIl73622112lreflNM_001223.3l transcript variant beta, mRNA > GIl73622118lreflNM_033293.2l transcript variant gamma, mRNA > GIl73622111lreflNM_033294.2transcript variant delta, mRNA > GIl73622117lreflNM_033295.2l transcript variant epsilon, mRNA 75 CASP7 > GIl73623014 lreflNM_033340.2l Homo sapiens caspase 7, apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase (CASP7), transcript variant beta, mRNA SEQ_ID_NO:123 > GIl73623016 lreflNM_033339.3 l transcript variant gamma, mRNA 76 CASP8 > GIl122056470lreflNM_001228.4l Homo sapiens caspase 8, apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase (CASP8), transcript variant A, mRNA > GIl122056471lreflNM_033356.3l transcript variant C, mRNA 77 CASP9 > GIl14790123lreflNM_001229.2l Homo sapiens caspase 9, apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase (CASP9), transcript variant alpha, mRNA > GIl14790127lreflNM_032996.1l transcript variant beta, mRNA 78 ASPP2 >GIl112799848lreflNM_001031685.2l Homo sapiens tumor protein p53 binding (TP53BP2) protein, 2 (TP53BP2), transcript variant 1, mRNA >GIl112799845lreflNM_005426.2l transcript variant 2, mRNA 79 RTN4 > GIl47519458lreflNM_020532.4l Homo sapiens reticulon 4 (RTN4), transcript (NogoA) variant 1, mRNA > GIl47519507lreflNM_153828.2l (RTN4), transcript variant 2, mRNA > GIl47519538lreflNM_007008.2l (RTN4), transcript variant 3, mRNA > GIl47519489lreflNM_207520.1l (RTN4), transcript variant 4, mRNA > GIl47519561lreflNM_207521.1l (RTN4), transcript variant 5, mRNA 80 RTN4R > GIl47519383lreflNM_023004.5l Homo sapiens reticulon 4 receptor (RTN4R), (NGR) mRNA 81 TLR1 > GIl 41350336lrefl NM_003263l Homo sapiens toll-like receptor 1 (TLR1), mRNA 82 TLR2 >GIl68160956lreflNM_003264.3l Homo sapiens Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), mRNA 83 TLR4 > GIl207028620lreflNM_138554.3 l Homo sapiens Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), mRNA, transcript variant 1 >GIl207028451lreflNR_024168.1ll (TLR4), transcript variant 3 (non-coding) >GIl207028550lreflNR_024169.1l l(TLR4), transcript variant 4 (non-coding) 84 TLR3 >GIl19718735lrefl NM_003265.2l Homo sapiens toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), mRNA 85 TLR6 >GIl 262527233lrefl NM_006068.3l Homo sapiens toll-like receptor 6 (TLR6), mRNA 86 TLR7 > GIl 67944638lrefl NM_016562.3l Homo sapiens toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7), mRNA 87 TLR8 >GIl 257196253lrefl NM_138636.4l Homo sapiens toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8), mRNA 88 TLR9 >GIl 20302169lrefl NM_017442.2l Homo sapiens toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), transcript variant A, mRNA 89 IL1R >GIl 27894331lrefl NM_000877.2l Homo sapiens interleukin 1 receptor, type I (IL1R1), mRNA 90 MYD88 >GIl197276653lreflNM_002468.4l Homo sapiens myeloid differentiation primary response gene (88) (MYD88), mRNA 91 TICAM1 >GIl197209874lreflNM_182919.2l Homo sapiens Toll-like receptor adaptor molecule 1 (TICAM1), mRNA 92 TIRAP >GIl89111121lreflNM_001039661.1l Homo sapiens toll-interleukin 1 receptor (TIR) domain containing adaptor protein (TIRAP), transcript variant 3, mRNA >GIl89111123lreflNM_148910.2l transcript variant 2, mRNA 93 SERPINH1 >GIl32454740lreflNM_001235.2l Homo sapiens serpin peptidase inhibitor, (HSP47) Glade H (heat shock protein 47), member 1, (collagen binding protein 1) (SERPINH1), mRNA

A specific mRNA sequence is associated with each GI and accession number. The description of the various aspects and embodiments is provided with reference to exemplary target genes. However, the various aspects and embodiments are also directed to related target genes, such as homolog genes and transcript variants, and polymorphisms (e.g., single nucleotide polymorphism, (SNPs)) associated with certain target genes.

In some embodiments of the invention, inhibition of any one of the following target genes, TGM2, NFE2L3, TARDBP, ADRB1, CAMK2A, CBLN1, CDK5R1, GABRA1, MAPK10, NOS1, NPTX2, NRGN, NTS, PDCD2, PDE4D, PENK, SYT1, TTR, FUS, LRDD, CYBA, ATF3, ATF6, CASP2, CASP1, CASP7, CASP8, CASP9, HRK, C1QBP, BNIP3, MAPK8, MAPK14, Rac1, GSK3B, P2RX7, TRPM2, PARG, CD38, STEAP4, BMP2, GJA1, TYROBP, CTGF, ANXA2, RHOA, DUOX1, RTP801, RTP801L, NOX4, NOX1, NOX2 (gp91pho, CYBB), NOX5, DUOX2, NOXO1, NOXO2 (p47phox, NCF1), NOXA1, NOXA2 (p67phox, NCF2), p53 (TP53), HTRA2, KEAP1, SHC1, ZNHIT1, LGALS3, HI95, SOX9, ASPP1, ASPP2, CTSD, CAPNS1, FAS and FASLG, NOGO and NOGO-R; TLR1, TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, IL1bR, MYD88, TICAM, TIRAP, HSP47 is useful in alleviating, preventing or treating neuropathic pain.

In some embodiments the target gene is selected from TGM2, MAPK10, PDE4D, CYBA, C1QBP, MAPK8, MAPK14, Rac1, GSK3B, P2RX7, TRPM2, PARG, CD38, STEAP4, BMP2, GJA1, TYROBP, CTGF, ANXA2, RHOA, DUOX1, NOX4, NOX1, NOX2 (gp91pho, CYBB), NOX5, DUOX2, NOXO1, NOXO2 (p47phox, NCF1), NOXA1, NOXA2 (p67phox, NCF2, KEAP1, SHC1, LGALS3, SOX9, NOGO and NOGO-R; TLR1, TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, IL1bR, MYD88, TICAM, TIRAP, or HSP47.

In some preferred embodiments the target gene is selected from MAPK10, PDE4D, CYBA, C1QBP, MAPK8, MAPK14, P2RX7, CD38, STEAP4, TYROBP, ANXA2, RHOA, DUOX1, NOX4, NOX1, NOX2 (gp91pho, CYBB), NOX5, DUOX2, NOXO1, NOXO2 (p47phox, NCF1), NOXA1, NOXA2 (p67phox, NCF2, KEAP1, SHC1, LGALS3, SOX9, NOGO, NOGO-R, TLR1, TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, IL1bR, MYD88, TICAM, TIRAP, or HSP47.

In some preferred embodiments the target gene is selected from RhoA, TLR4, LGALS and P2RX7.

In preferred embodiments the therapeutic oligonucleotide is a double stranded RNA (dsRNA) compound. In some embodiments the dsRNA is a siRNA compound, preferably a chemically modified siRNA according to the disclosure provided herein. In preferred embodiments the subject being treated is a warm-blooded animal and, in particular a mammal, and preferably a human. Sequences useful in generating siRNA compounds are identified using design rules for selecting siRNA, and may be identified using an algorithm, available online for example, on the worldwide web.

“Treating a subject” refers to administering to the subject a therapeutic substance effective to alleviate symptoms associated with a disease or condition, to delay the onset of the disease, to slow the progress of the disease, to lessen the severity or cure the disease, or to prevent the disease from occurring. “Treatment” refers to both therapeutic treatment and prophylactic or preventative measures, wherein the object is to prevent a disorder, to slow the progress of a disease or to reduce the symptoms of a disorder. Those in need of treatment include those already experiencing the disease or condition, those at risk of or prone to having the disease or condition, and those in which the disease or condition is to be prevented. The compositions of the invention are administered before, during or subsequent to the onset of the disease or condition.

Additionally, the invention provides a method of down-regulating the expression of a target gene by at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50% as compared to a control, comprising contacting a target gene mRNA with one or more of the chemically modified siRNA compound of the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention.

In some embodiments the method comprises administering to a subject a therapeutic oligonucleotide, for example an siRNA once, twice, three times, or four times daily. In some embodiments a therapeutic oligonucleotide is administered continuously over a period of 1 day to 14 days. In other embodiments a therapeutic oligonucleotide is administered once by lumbar injection, within 48 hours of CNS or PNS injury, preferably within 40 hours, 32 hours, or within 24 hours of injury. In other embodiments a therapeutic oligonucleotide is administered once by lumbar injection, within 48 hours of CNS or PNS injury, preferably within 40 hours, 32 hours, or within 24 hours of injury and then administered once every two weeks, or once every month. Exemplary durations of treatment include at least about 3 days, from 1 day to 1 month, from 1 day to about two weeks, from two weeks to 1 month, up to about 6 months, up to about 12 months or even longer. In an embodiment of the treatment method, the administration is over a duration of time effective to result in elimination or reduction of pain.

The attending physician will decide use of the therapeutic compounds and compositions within the scope of sound medical judgment.

The specific dose level and administration modality necessary to achieve a positive therapeutic response in treatment of pain, such as preventing, diminishing, alleviating or eliminating pain in a subject depends upon a variety of factors including the scope and severity of the disorder or injury; the composition used; certain information about the patient including age, sex, body weight, general health; the time of administration, route of administration, and rate of excretion of the specific compound employed; the duration of the treatment; drugs used in combination with the specific compound employed; and factors well-known in the medical arts. The total daily dose of the compounds administered to a subject, for example a human subject, ranges from about 0.10 ug/kg body weight to about 25 mg/kg body weight; or from about 0.10 ug/kg body weight to about 10 mg/kg body weight, or from about 1.0 ug/kg body weight to about 10 mg/kg body weight, or from about 10.0 ug/kg body weight to about 10 mg/kg body weight. (“ug/kg” refers to microgram therapeutic agent per kilogram body weight).

In one aspect a kit is provided for treating spinal cord injury, the kit comprising any one of the compositions of the invention in an effective amount to treat spinal cord injury. In one aspect a kit is provided for treating or preventing allodynia, the kit comprising any one of the compositions of the invention in an effective amount to treat or prevent allodynia. In one embodiment, the kit is used with a drug delivery pump. In one embodiment, the kit is used with a syringe for intrathecal or intraspinal delivery.

Delivery to the Spinal Cord

Delivery of a drug into the intradural or intrathecal space is aimed at delivering the drug to a specific target within the spinal cord, and in concentrations within the spinal cord that cannot be achieved with systemic delivery and using a method that is less invasive than for example an implanted drug delivery system or surgery. The drug may also be restricted to its spinal delivery site, thereby avoiding dose-limiting side effects or toxicities. Chemical agents delivered to the intradural or intrathecal space have been shown previously to enter the plasma and achieve significant systemic concentrations differing from drug to drug. Addition of liposomes or other formulations may greatly increase the systemic concentration of drugs delivered to the spinal cord. (Spinal Drug Delivery, Elsevier, May 1999, T. L. Yaksh Ed.).

The siRNAs of the present invention are preferably naked i.e. unformulated and thus when administered intraparenchymally or intrathecally are readily taken up by the cells of the spinal cord.

Intraparenchymal Delivery

The parenchyma is the nervous tissue of the spinal cord, which is bathed in the cerebrospinal fluid and surrounded by the dura matter within the vertebral bones. In intraparenchymal delivery, drugs are injected directly or via a catheter across the dura matter into the nervous tissue. The drugs may be injected in bolus form or delivered continuously.

Intrathecal Delivery

The spinal intrathecal space is the space surrounding the spinal cord in the spinal canal. In intrathecal delivery, the drug is injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid.

Differences between intraparenchymal delivery and intrathecal delivery include:

-   -   Only small volumes can be injected into the parenchyma while the         intrathecal space is quite large at the lumbar enlargement,         which allows much larger volumes to be injected.     -   Intraparenchymal delivery requires a laminectomy whereas and         intrathecal delivery can be performed at the lumbar enlargement         by injection between the lumbar vertebrae without disrupting         them.

The present application provides two methods of delivery of siRNAs into the injured spinal cord and shows uptake of these agents into many different types of cells in and around the injury site. Moreover, injection of the siRNA into the injured spinal cord improved walking behavior using both methods and reduced pain sensitivity in at least one method. These results have therapeutic implications for mammalian subjects including human and animal patients and provide multiple delivery methods for improved function in spinal cord injury or disease patients. A combination of these methods may be even more beneficial. In addition, the lack of observed non-specific side effects indicates that combination of different siRNAs directed against different targets is feasible as a combination therapy against multiple targets simultaneously.

Numerous publications and patent documents, including both published applications and issued patents, are cited throughout the specification in order to describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. Each of these citations is incorporated herein by reference as though set forth in full.

The invention is further defined by reference to the examples describing in detail the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, both to materials and methods, may be practiced without departing from the purpose and interest of this invention. The following examples are set forth to assist in understanding the invention and should not be construed as specifically limiting the invention described and claimed herein. Such variations of the invention, including the substitution of all equivalents now known or later developed, which would be within the purview of those skilled in the art, and changes in formulation or minor changes in experimental design, are to be considered to fall within the scope of the invention incorporated herein.

EXAMPLES General Methods in Molecular Biology

Standard molecular biology techniques known in the art and not specifically described were generally followed as in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (1989), and as in Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley and Sons, Baltimore, Md. (1989) and as in Perbal, A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1988), and as in Watson et al., Recombinant DNA, Scientific American Books, New York and in Birren et al (eds) Genome Analysis: A Laboratory Manual Series, Vols. 1-4 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (1998) and methodology as set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,666,828; 4,683,202; 4,801,531; 5,192,659 and 5,272,057 and incorporated herein by reference. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out generally as in PCR Protocols: A Guide To Methods And Applications, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990). In situ (In cell) PCR in combination with Flow Cytometry can be used for detection of cells containing specific DNA and mRNA sequences (Testoni et al., 1996, Blood 87:3822.) Methods of performing RT-PCR are also well known in the art.

Oligonucleotide Sequences

Oligonucleotide sequences useful in generating dsRNA compounds including siRNA compounds are identified using design rules for selecting siRNA, and may be identified using an algorithm, available online for example, on the worldwide web. In a non-limiting example, the following website provides a list of available free online siRNA services: http://www.rnaiweb.com/RNAi/RNAi Web Resources/RNAi Tools Software/Online si RNA Design Tools/index.html. Additional oligonucleotide sequences useful in generating dsRNA, in particular siRNA, may be selected from sequences disclosed in PCT patent publications WO 2008/050329, WO 2008/152636, and WO 2009/044392, assigned to an applicant of the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The Sequence Listing filed electronically herewith is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety (File Name: 210_PCTl_ST25.txt; Date Created: Nov. 8, 2010; File Size: 26.00 Kb.)

siRNA Synthesis, Modifications, Activity and Nuclease Stability

All siRNA molecules used in this study were stabilized by alternating 2′O-methylation. Specifically 2′O-methyl groups were present in all odd nucleotides of the antisense strands and in all even nucleotides of the sense strands (BioSpring, Frankfurt Germany). Cy3.5-labeled siRNA used for imaging studies had sequence 5′-GUGCCAACCUGAUGCAGCU-3′ (SEQ ID NO:9, sense strand) siRNA against GFP (siGFP) was as previously described (Hamar et al., 2004). Active siRNA against RhoA (siRhoA) used in the in vivo studies had the sequence 5′-GCCACUUAAUGUAUGUUAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 5; sense strand). Active siRNA against TLR4 (siTLR4) used in the in vivo studies had the sequence 5′ GAGUUCAGGUUAACAUAUA 3′ (SEQ ID NO:7, sense strand). The knockdown efficacy of siRhoA and siTLR4 were tested in human HeLa and rat REF52 cells by transfection of siRNA using Lipofectamine™2000 (Invitrogen, CA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Target gene knockdown was determined by quantitative real-time-PCR (q-RT-PCR).

Example 1 Cellular Localization of siRNAs in Rat Spinal Cord Following Spinal Cord Injury and Intraparenchymal Delivery

To develop siRNA therapies in spinal cord injury (SCI), the cells which incorporated labeled siRNA were identified. siRNAs conjugated with Cy3 as well as a specific sequence conjugated with Cy3.5 (REDD14/Cy3.5) demonstrated incorporation into similar cell populations including motorneurons, macrophages, white matter axons, as well as neurons in the dorsal root and endothelial cells as shown in FIGS. 1A-1F. Thus, the siRNA is taken up by many of the cells where RhoA action has been implicated in SCI including neurons, astrocytes, microglia/macrophages and endothelial cells (D'Alessandri et al., 1995; Dubreuil et al., 2003. J Cell Biol 162(2): 233-43; Erschbamer et al., 2005. J Comp Neurol 484(2): 224-33; Yune et al., 2007. J Neurosci. 2007 Jul. 18; 27(29):7751-61; Fu et al., 2007; Pixley et al., 2005. J Cell Sci. 2005 May 1; 118(Pt 9):1873-83; Schreibelt et al., 2007. FASEB J. 2007 November; 21(13):3666-76; Schwab et al., 2004. Science 295(5557): 1029-31).

FIG. 2 shows siRNA compounds designed and verified for their knockdown of RhoA that were assessed using cells in vitro. The validated RHOA_(—)4 compound was then used for its anticipated neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and neuroregenerative abilities in vivo as shown in FIG. 3A. Locomotor BBB analysis was followed for 6 weeks and significant locomotor improvement following SCI and intraspinal injections of siRhoA were observed compared to siGFP as a control as shown in FIG. 3B. The effect indicating improvement of BBB walking scores was observed at the earliest times tested. Without wishing to be bound to theory this may suggest that the siRNA effect is due to protective mechanisms in addition to promoting regeneration, which may require longer times for axons to grow.

To analyze the ability of the siRNA to alter RhoA protein levels, proteins were extracted from 5 mm segments of spinal cord tissues and measured relative levels of RhoA protein after immunblotting. The levels of RhoA proteins were lower in the injected contusion sites that were treated with siRhoA by comparison to GFP controls as shown in FIG. 4, indicating inhibition of RhoA protein induction one week after contusion. Analysis by enzyme linked immunoassays confirmed lower levels of RhoA immunnoreactivity in the siRhoA treated samples (FIG. 5).

To compare intraparenchymal with intrathecal delivery, the Cy3.5 labeled siRNA (REDD14/Cy3.5) was applied using bolus administration to the lumbar enlargement one day after contusion. Results in FIGS. 6A-6G show widespread dye incorporation into the spinal cord at the injury center as well as in adjacent rostral and caudal regions but not at distant cervical sites. The siRNA penetrated into the white matter as well as the gray matter. Thus, intrathecal delivery in the lumbar region yielded preferential uptake of siRNA in and around the injury site in the thoracic region of the spinal cord.

The ability of the siRNA to inhibit SCI-induced increase in RhoA mRNA was measured by Quantitative RT PCR. One day after contusion siRNA was injected via lumbar puncture and three days later spinal cord tissues were analyzed for relative levels of RhoA mRNA. Results in FIGS. 7A and 7B show that siRhoA treatment reduced average intensities when 30 and 100 μg were injected. “T1” refers to level T1 of the spine, and “I” refers to the Injury site.

The therapeutic effects of lumbar puncture injection of siRhoA compared to siGFP controls administered one day after contusion injury was measured using BBB scoring. Observations during the first 4 weeks did not show differences in BBB scores but from week 5-8 the siRhoA treatment yielded higher scores that the GFP controls with the maximal difference observed at 8 weeks as shown in FIG. 8. Moreover, in the paw-pressure test with von Frey filaments, rats treated with siRhoA had reduced pain sensitivities by comparison to siGFP controls (FIGS. 9A and 9B). After sacrifice of these rats, white matter sparing measured by fast blue staining was greater with the siRhoA treatment that in the GFP controls (FIG. 10).

Cellular Localization of siRNAs Following Intraparenchymal Delivery and SCI

RhoA mRNA expression rises gradually to peak levels at ˜1 week following contusion, suggesting that this period represents a window of opportunity to introduce specific siRNAs to inhibit RhoA protein expression (Sung et al., 2003 Brain Res 959(1): 29-38; Conrad et al., 2005 J Comp Neurol 487(2): 166-75; Erschbamer et al., 2005 J Comp Neurol 484(2): 224-33). To define what types of cells can incorporate siRNA, rat spinal cords at T9-10 by laminectomy were exposed, injected Cy3.5-labeled nuclease-stabilized siRNA and then contused the spinal cord using the MASCIS Impactor with a 12.5 mm weight drop. Confocal microscopic analysis of spinal cords fixed after different survival times revealed widespread Cy3.5 fluorescence with labeling of certain morphologically distinguishable cells including motor neurons, macrophages, white matter axons and endothelial cells (FIG. 1A-1E). Labeling in the large cell bodies of motor neurons and endothelial cells was found at all times up to 2 weeks but label in axonal profiles in the white matter was only detected up to day 3 (FIG. 1F). Six weeks after 1 μg of siRNA was injected into the spinal cord at least some siRNA was still present insofar as ˜8 pg was detected in a 0.5 cm segment by Stem-and-Loop qPCR. The fluorescence and biochemical results suggest the siRNA can survive in the contused spinal cord from days to weeks after injection. The results indicate that, when present at the time of contusive injury, the siRNA can be taken up by many of the cells in which RhoA action has been implicated in SCI including neurons, microglia, macrophages and endothelial cells.

Uptake of siRNA in the Spinal Cord Injury Site after Delayed Lumbar Injection

The results described herein indicate that siRNA present in the spinal cord at the time of injury can be taken up into multiple cells, reduce the SCI-induced upregulation of RhoA and has long lasting effects to promote functional recovery. Other routes of administration that could allow more flexibility (including administration at different time points) were examined. Introduction of Cy3.5-labeled siRNAs intranasally (Thorne et al., 2004) yielded some uptake into the brain and spinal cord. Introduction of siRNAs into the CSF was also done intrathecally. A total of 30 μg of Cy3.5-labeled siRNA in a 40 μl volume were injected into the lumbar enlargement at different times (e.g. 24 h) after a 12.5 mm contusion and analyzed the distribution of the fluorescence 24 h later in the freshly dissected spinal cords (. Whole mount imaging of the spinal cord revealed widespread Cy3.5 labeling in the spinal cord in the vicinity of the injection site and extending rostrally to the injury site but only weakly beyond it (FIG. 6A). After fixation and cyrosectioning, it was observed that the siRNA penetrated into the white matter and was most robust in the gray matter particularly in the injury site (FIG. 6D). Weaker parenchymal signals were observed in more distal regions but not proximal to the injury site. Comparable fluorescence in the parenchyma was also observed in rats injected 3 days rather than 1 day after contusion. A higher dose of Cy3.5-labeled siRNA (100 μg) did not yield more robust fluorescence in the injury site but a three-fold lower dose (10 μg) yielded much lower signals. The results indicate that at 24 h after delivery at 1 day after SCI, most of the label appeared to be surrounding the spinal cord, with some in the parenchyma and along the central canal. The robust uptake in the spinal cord parenchyma particularly near the injury site may result from increased penetration of Cy3.5-labeled siRNA in regions of injured tissue. When rats injected 24 h after contusion were allowed to survive for 3 days rather than 1 day after injection, fluorescence was found to extend in the parenchyma proximal to the injury site for ˜1 cm. The spread in the parenchyma suggests that uptake may continue for several days due to diffusion as well as to circulation in the cerebrospinal fluid. Thus, intrathecal delivery in the lumbar region one day after SCI yielded preferential uptake of siRNA in and around the injury site in the thoracic region compared to the rest of the spinal cord.

Example 2 Further Experimental Results Demonstrating that siRNA Inhibition of RhoA Promotes Functional Recovery from SCI and Prevents Allodynia Material and Methods

Animals and spinal cord injury: The experiments were performed using 125 Sprague-Dawley female rats (10-11 weeks old) (Taconic, Germantown, N.Y.). For SCI surgery, rats were anesthetized with 2% isoflurane (IsoFlo, Abbott Lab, North Chicago, Ill.) and the spinal cord was exposed by laminectomy at T9-10 and then contused by dropping a 10.0 g rod on the exposed T11 cord from a height of 12.5 or 25 mm, as described (Constantini and Young, 1994; Hasegawa et al., 2005). Following the contusion and injections when performed, muscles and skin were closed separately. Cefazolin (25 mg/kg) was administered to all rats. siRNA injection: Injections at the injury site were performed within 30 minutes prior to injury; 1 μg in 1 μl of siRNA was injected at each of three points including the injury epicenter, and 2 mm rostral and caudal to the epicenter (3 μl total) (Hasegawa et al., 2005). Each injection was conducted slowly during a period of ˜10 min at a depth of ˜1 mm using a sterile 5-μl Hamilton syringe. For lumbar puncture, anesthetized rats were placed on an operating surface that flexed their backs and raised the lumbar region. A ˜1 cm longitudinal incision was made over the L3-5 spinal processes, and the skin was retracted. A 30-gauge needle was advanced into the spinal canal at L3-4 or L4-5 to administer 40 μl into the intrathecal space using a 100 μl Hamilton syringe. Proper placement of the needle in the lumbar intrathecal space was indicated by a feeling of “give” at the time of entry and a tail flick (Lepore et al., 2005). To determine whether this method reverses cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow up to the region of the injury site, 40 μl of Evans Blue dye were injected in the lumbar enlargement and the appearance of the dye in exposed T9-10 spinally laminectomized rats within seconds after injection confirmed flow across the injury site.

Total cellular RNA preparation and Q-RT-PCR: To isolate RNAs, animals were injected with 100 mg/kg pentobarbital and then perfused with cold PBS. Spinal columns were quickly removed and frozen on dry ice powder. A 5-mm spinal cord segment centered at injury (I) epicenter was dissected along with adjacent 5-mm proximal and distal segments as well as a segment at thoracic level 1 (T1) (Chang et al., 2009). In some experiments the I segments were bisected at the midline yielding two pieces of tissue representing the same region of the spinal cord and separate extractions for RNA and protein enabled comparison of results from the paired tissues. For RNA, tissues were homogenized with a polytron homogenizer (Kinematica Inc.) and RNA was prepared following the Qiagen RNeasy Plus Mini protocol (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.). RNA was quantitated using a Nanodrop spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific Inc.) and 1 μg of total RNA was used for first-strand cDNA with SuperScript II reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) primed by random hexamers. PCR reactions were performed on 40 ng of cDNA using 1 mM of primers and SYBR Green master mix (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) in 20 μl reactions using Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast machine. The expression value of each gene was normalized to the amount of GAPDH cDNA to calculate the relative amount of RNA present in each sample.

RhoA protein detection and quantitation by ELISA: Spinal cord segments (5 mm) were homogenized using a Teflon pestle in 150 ul of RIPA buffer (Sigma R0278) containing 3 ul of 50× complete protease inhibitor cocktail (Roche). Protein concentrations were determined using the Micro BCA Protein Assay Kit (Pierce) according to the manufactures recommended 96-well plate protocol. RhoA protein was detected by immunoblotting with anti-RhoA monoclonal antibody ARH03 (Cytoskeleton Inc.) using 20 μg loads of protein. To avoid problems in normalizing across different immunoblots when many samples were analyzed, ELISA that is more sensitive and can accommodate more samples per plate was used. ELISA 96-well plates (Nunc MaxiSorp) were coated with 100 ul of carbonatebicarbonate buffer containing proteins at 80 μg/ml or diluted RhoA as a standard (Cytoskeleton Inc.) incubated overnight at 4° C., and the next day, RhoA was detected using anti-RhoA monoclonal antibody ARH03 according to the manufacturers suggested protocol in the Express Elisa Kit (GenScript). Colorimetric intensities at 450 nm were measured in a Biotek microplate reader and the results were analyzed with Gen5 software (Biotek) to determine concentrations of RhoA in each experimental sample from the standard curve for RhoA.

Tissue processing and staining: Anesthetized animals were perfused intracardially with saline solution followed by 4% paraformaldehyde. Spinal cords were removed with injury epicenter marked and post-fixed 4-5 h in the same fixative, cryoprotected, embedded for frozen sectioning and cut at 20 μm on a cryostat (Hacker-Bright). Cy3.5 labeled siRNA was detected in freshly isolated spinal cord with a Zeiss Stemi SV11 microscope to determine gross distributions. Spinal cords were then fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and cryosectioned. LFB staining and other procedures were performed as described (Hasegawa et al., 2005). For immunostaining, sections were blocked with 10% normal goat serum/0.3% Triton X-100 in PBS for 2 h at and incubated overnight at 4° C. with primary antibodies. Staining with rabbit protein kinase C-γ (PKCγ) (1:200) and mouse ED1 (1:300) (Serotec, Raleigh, N.C.) were performed on the same sections following antigen retrieval with proteinase K (Dako) for 4 min at 25° C. Sections were washed with PBS and incubated with secondary anti-rabbit Alexa 488 or anti-mouse Alexa 568 at 1:400 for 1 h at room temperature. After washing, sections were mounted with Aqua-Mount (Lerner Lab). Images were captured using a Zeiss 510 confocal laser scanning microscope (LSM) or a Zeiss Automated Cell scan System for Axiovert 200 M on groups of sections that were stained at the same time. Staining with Serotonin rabbit 5-HT (1:1000) (ImmunoStar) was performed using the same procedure without antigen retrieval and with anti rabbit Alexa 568 (1:200) as secondary antibody.

Quantitation for histology: Quantitation of LFB staining was used to analyze tissue sparing. All coronal sections for the analysis were stained for LFB at the same time to ensure uniform color development and then scanned with a Film Scanner LS-8000 ED (Nikon, Japan) at 4000 dpi resolution. The color images were converted to gray scale and individual sections were outlined in Photoshop, and NIH Image J was used to obtain the total area pixels for each section. A constant threshold was used to obtain super-threshold pixels of LFB staining and the resulting areas were measured. Spared tissue is defined as the super-threshold area divided by the total area outlined in each section. Images from each spinal cord were measured at 1 mm intervals over 10 mm of the spinal cord centered on the injury epicenter. In nearly all cases the position with minimal spared tissue corresponded to the designated injury epicenter and when it did not it was redefined as the 0 location. Averages of spared tissue were then calculated and plotted as a function of location (FIG. 11). For ED1 staining, 11 coronal sections at 1 mm intervals were chosen from each animal for quantitation. Tiled images encompassing entire coronal sections at each location were taken with a 20× objective lens (N.A.=0.75) on an Axiovert 200M fluorescence microscope (Zeiss) and analyzed with Zeiss LSM histogram software. A constant threshold was applied to all sections and the super-threshold area for each was divided by the total area outlined to obtain the percent ED1+. The CST is located at the midline above the central canal and PKCγ staining in this region was outlined (see FIG. 12C) and extracted for quantitation. Sections 8 mm rostral from the injury site appeared normal and expressed comparable levels of PKCγ both in regions corresponding to lamina II and the dorsal CST. Therefore, the average of all the super-threshold areas at 8 mm rostral to the injury was used for normalization of the other sections. Super-threshold areas of each CST extracted region were obtained after excluding areas of autofluorescence due to macrophages (see inserts FIG. 12C) and then normalized. All quantitative analyses were performed by investigators blinded to the treatment groups.

Behavioral analyses: Locomotor recovery was assessed weekly using the 21-point BBB score (Basso et al., 1996. J. Neurotrauma 12: 1-21; Basso et al., 1996. Exp Neurol 139(2): 244-56; Hasegawa et al., 2005. Exp Neurol 193: 394-410) by BBB scoring teams that were unaware of experimental treatments (Hasegawa et al., 2005. Exp Neurol 193: 394-410). For allodynia, hindpaw withdrawal thresholds were determined using a series of von Frey filaments (Stoelting, IL) with calibrated bending forces ranging from 0.6 to 18 g (Dixon, 1980. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 20: 441-62; Hains and Waxman, 2006. J Neurosci 26(16): 4308-17). Rats were placed individually in wire mesh-bottom cages, and allowed to acclimate for 30 min before von Frey filaments were applied to the central region of the plantar surface of ventral hindpaws in ascending order of force. Testing was performed only when the rat was stationary and standing on all four paws. A withdrawal response was considered valid only if the hindpaw lifted completely from the mesh-bottom. When a withdrawal response was established for a given animal, a von Frey filament with the next lower force was used to retest, until no response occurred. A trial consisted of applying von Frey filaments five times to each hindpaw. The hindpaw withdrawal threshold was defined as the lowest force that caused at least three withdrawals out of five consecutive applications. Thresholds were determined first for the left hindpaw and then for the right hindpaw of the same rat after 5 min and average thresholds were calculated (Dixon, 1980 Ann Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 20:441-462; Hains and Waxman, 2006 J Neurosci 26:4308-4317). The lateral hindpaw test also used von Frey filaments to probe lateral hindpaw withdrawal and thresholds were calculated as above.

Results

siRhoA inhibits induction of RhoA protein after SCI and promotes recovery of hindlimb walking

A panel of siRNAs designed to target rat RhoA sequences were tested for knockdown of RhoA mRNA by qPCR. The most potent siRNA reduced RhoA mRNA levels by >80% at 5 nM in rat REF52 cells and it was even more effective in knocking down RhoA expression in human HeLa cells (FIG. 2A). The siRNA showed no evidence of degradation after incubation at 37° C. for 10 h in rat cerebrospinal fluid suggesting that it should be stable in vivo for at least hours and perhaps for days (FIG. 2B). To analyze the ability of this siRNA to alter RhoA protein levels after SCI, siRhoA or siGFP as a negative control were injected into the vicinity of the injury site 30 minutes prior to contusion. After one week, 5 mm segments of spinal cord tissues were extracted with RIPA buffer and equivalent amounts of protein were resolved on SDS gels and immunblotted with antibodies to RhoA. The highest levels of RhoA immunoreactivity were detected in the 5 mm segments centered on the injury site in rats injected with siGFP or in uninjected spinal cords. Lower levels of RhoA immunoreactivity were observed in most injured spinal cords injected with siRhoA (FIG. 3A). The results indicate that delivery of siRhoA to the spinal cord at the time of injury reduced upregulation of RhoA protein at one week. To test whether knockdown of RhoA after SCI affects functional recovery, a similar experiment with locomotor BBB analysis for 6 weeks following intraspinal injections of siRhoA or siGFP as a control was carried out. Following a 12.5 contusion at thoracic levels T9-10, siGFP injected animals showed a typical pattern of recovery in BBB scores reaching a plateau of ˜12 (Basso et al., 1996), whereas the group injected with siRhoA reached a higher plateau of ˜15 (FIG. 3B). The improvement of BBB walking scores appeared at the earliest times tested, suggesting that the siRhoA effect may involve protective mechanisms. Another two groups of rats were injected with the same doses of siRNAs and tested for recovery after a more severe 25 mm MASCIS contusion. The average BBB score in the siGFP treated group plateaued at ˜8 somewhat lower than expected. Without wishing to be bound to theory, the injections prior to the more severe contusion may exacerbate the injury. The average BBB score of the siRhoA treated group was higher but the differences were not statistically significant (FIG. 3C). The results suggest that siRhoA injection into the spinal cord just prior to injury improves recovery significantly after a 12.5 mm contusion and showed a beneficial trend with the more severe 25 mm contusion.

Inhibition of SCI-Induced RhoA Expression 3 Days after Lumbar Injection of siRNA

A dose of 30 μg of Cy3.5-labeled siRNA was the minimal dose that yielded robust uptake into the injury site following lumbar injection, and this dose was tested for knockdown activity. The ability of siRNAs to inhibit levels of RhoA mRNA and protein after SCI was measured by quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. One day after contusion, siRNAs were injected via lumbar puncture and three days later 5 mm segments centered on SCI sites were dissected and then bisected along the midline. RNA extracted from one half of the bisected tissues was analyzed by RT-PCR for RhoA. The relative levels of RhoA mRNA in the T9-10 injury site at 4 days after 12.5 mm contusion were 1.96+/−0.08 times the levels found in the first thoracic segment (T1) in the SCI only group (FIG. 7A). Lumbar injection of 30 μg of siRhoA reduced the SCI-induced RhoA mRNA to 1.41+/−0.12 times T1 levels but injection of control siGFP did not inhibit the relative levels of RhoA mRNA significantly (FIG. 7A). A higher dose of 100 μg siRhoA inhibited RhoA mRNA significantly to 1.2+/−0.10 times T1 levels (FIG. 7A). Relative levels of RhoA protein were measured by ELISA of protein extracts prepared from the same rats analyzed above using the second half of the SCI samples obtained after bisecting the spinal cords. The 100 μg dose of siRhoA inhibited the relative levels of RhoA protein significantly to 0.65+/−0.04 by comparison to control injuries injected with siGFP (0.96+/−0.06) or without injection (1.00+/−0.04), and the 30 μg dose showed a similar trend reducing the relative levels to 0.71+/−0.08 (FIG. 7B). The results indicate that lumbar injection of siRhoA one day after SCI reduced RhoA mRNA and protein levels after 3 days using siRNA doses that exhibited robust uptake in the injured spinal cord.

Lumbar Injection of siRhoA Prevented Allodynia in SCI Rats

The therapeutic effects of lumbar puncture injection of 100 μg doses of siRhoA compared to siGFP controls administered one day after 12.5 mm MASCIS contusion injury were measured using weekly BBB scoring. In a first experiment using 4 rats per group there was no significant difference in the BBB scores but there was a slight trend towards improvement with the siRhoA. Tactile hypersensitivity with a hindpaw-pressure test using von Frey filaments (Hain and Waxman, 2006. J Neurosci 26(16): 4308-17) was measured and found to be decreased at 6-8 weeks in the siRhoA group. A second experiment using larger groups of 7 rats per treatment was also performed, and significant differences between siRhoA and siGFP in allodynia but not in locomotion were found. Uninjured rats were relatively insensitive with a pressure withdrawal threshold (PWT) of ˜3 g, whereas spinally contused rats exhibited increased sensitivity (<1 g) by 2 weeks that persisted throughout the remaining survival period until week 8 (FIG. 9A). No evidence of increased sensitivity with siRhoA treatment by comparison to siGFP controls was observed. Rather, rats treated with siRhoA had reduced tactile sensitivities by week 6 that continued to improve to pre-injury levels by week 8 (FIG. 9A). A similar time course of increased sensitivity after SCI was also observed with a lateral paw test (FIG. 9B) that is not complicated by the reflex reaction that can occur with the glabrous paw test. In both tests, the thresholds for withdrawal at 8 weeks were significantly higher after injection of 100 μg of siRhoA than with control siGFP treatment. The combined results indicate that siRhoA inhibits allodynia that typically develops after contusive SCI. Provided herein is a method of preventing allodynia in a subject comprising administering to the subject by lumbar injection a siRNA compound directed to a target gene associated with allodynia in an amount and over a period of time effective to prevent allodynia in the subject.

siRhoA Treatment Promoted White Matter Sparing

White matter sparing was observed in a SCI study with an inhibitor of RhoA function (Lord-Fontaine et al., 2008. J Neurotrauma 25(11): 1309-22). To analyze the effect of siRNA injection on white matter preservation in the groups of contused rats described above, the tissues after the 8-week survival period were perfusion fixed and coronal spinal cord sections were stained with LFB. In nearly all spinal cords, the preserved white matter was at a minimum at the center of the injury site with increasing LFB staining in more rostral and caudal regions (FIG. 10). Measurement of the percent white matter spared at 1 mm intervals rostral and caudal from the center of the injury site yielded higher average values with the siRhoA than with the control siGFP treatment at the center of the injury site and in surrounding regions. Preservation was most robust with the siRhoA treatment 1 mm rostral to the injury site (FIG. 10). The results indicate that reducing RhoA levels improves white matter sparing after spinal cord contusion. In one embodiment provided is a method to promote sparing of white matter in a subject having a spinal cord injury comprising administering to the subject by lumbar injection a siRNA compound directed to a target gene in an amount and over a period of time effective to spare white matter in the subject.

siRhoA treatment decreased ED1 staining

The loss of myelin following spinal cord injury has been attributed at least in part to robust and prolonged actions of activated macrophages (Blight, 1992; Kigerl et al., 2009). Immunostaining with ED 1 on the same groups of rats analyzed above for myelin sparing suggested that there were fewer activated macrophages in the siRhoA treated rats than in the controls (FIG. 12A). Measurement of the ED1-positive areas in the control siGFP treated groups showed a peak at the injury epicenter with decreasing signals in rostral and caudal regions as described previously at 6 weeks after spinal cord injury (Fleming et al., 2009. J Neurosurg Spine 11(5): 575-87). Lower levels of ED1-positive areas were detected in the siRhoA treated groups in the injury site as well as in rostral but not in caudal spinal cord regions (FIG. 12B). The region in which siRhoA treatment was most effective in reducing levels of ED1-positive cells (0 to +2 mm) corresponds to the region where white matter sparing was most robust (FIG. 10). The results indicate that treatment with siRNA against RhoA reduced levels of activated macrophages after 8 weeks at the injury site and in rostral regions where oligodendrocyte death and myelin loss occur.

siRhoA treatment increased PKCγ fibers

After spinal cord contusion many fiber tracts are damaged and surviving axons retract away from the extended injury site. The corticospinal tract (CST) located in dorsal-medial spinal cord can be identified by PKCγ staining (Bradbury et al., 2002. Nature. 2002 Apr. 11; 416(6881):636-40), and it is particularly sensitive to SCI and shows minimal regeneration into the injury site after contusion (Demediuk et al., 1990; Hill et al., 2001; Steward et al., 2003). With control siRNA treatment after contusion the PKCγ+CST was relatively intact at 8 mm rostral to the injury site but staining diminished dramatically at 3 mm rostral (FIG. 12C). Quantitative analysis in coronal sections showed complete loss of PKCγ staining in the siGFP treated group at 2 mm rostral to the injury site with increasing staining progressively in more rostral regions up to 8 mm from the injury site (FIG. 12D). In contrast, rats treated with siRhoA had significantly more staining for PKCγ than the control siRNA at 2 mm rostral to the injury site and at each location more rostral up to +8 mm where they did not differ significantly (FIG. 12D). The results suggest that inhibition of RhoA induction after SCI yielded more CST fibers.

siRhoA treatment promoted serotonergic fiber growth

In previous studies, increased staining for the raphe tract has been associated with reduced allodynia (Ramer et al., 2004. J Neurosci. 2004. 24(48):10796-805.) and more recently serotonin function has been confirmed (Wei et al. 2010. J Neurosci. 30(25):8624-36.). Therefore the extent of serotonergic fiber staining caudal to the contusion site was measured. Even at low magnification (FIG. 12), there were obvious differences between siGFP controls and siRhoA injected spinal cords with more intense staining in the latter. Quantitative analysis of serotonin+ fiber immunostaining performed on higher magnification confocal images in eight regions to detect fibers at 12 mm caudal to the contusion site showed significantly longer lengths in siRhoA treated rats by comparison to siGFP controls (FIG. 12). These results indicate a significant improvement in serotonergic fiber growth with the siRhoA treatment following SCI in the rat.

Example 3 siRhoA and siTLR4 can Prevent and Treat Allodynia

Therapeutic activity of siRNA directed to RhoA mRNA (SEQ ID NO:1) or TLR4 mRNA (SEQ ID NO:2) in the Spinal Nerve Ligation Model (Chung) in rats

The Chung (Kim and Chung, 1992. Pain. 1992 September; 50(3):355-63.) rat model duplicates the symptoms of human patients with causalgia, or burning pain due to injury of a peripheral nerve. The Chung procedure produces a long-lasting hyperalgesia to noxious heat and mechanical allodynia of the affected foot. Rats with spinal nerve ligation (SNL) are useful for identifying active dsRNA compounds for use in alleviating neuropathic pain.

Alleviation of Neuropathic Pain in Chung Model Rats

The surgical procedure previously described by Kim and Chung, 1992, was performed on male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 190 to 2100 grams to induce an allodynic state. Animals were acclimated for at least 5 days. During acclimation and throughout the entire study duration, animals were housed within a limited access rodent facility and kept in groups with a maximum of 5 rats per cage. Animals are provided ad libitum with a commercial rodent diet and have free access to drinking water. Automatically controlled environmental conditions were monitored daily. Animals were given a unique animal identification tail mark.

During the acclimation period, animals will be randomly assigned to experimental groups. Each dosing group will be kept in separate cages to avoid cross-contamination which can occur through consumption of fecal matter. 2-3 animals will be housed per cage. A total of 108 rats were divided into 9 test groups, according to Table B, hereinbelow. Briefly, the rats were anesthetized with ketamine/xylazine sodium and subsequently, the left L-5 and L-6 spinal nerves were isolated adjacent to the vertebral column and ligated. The muscle is sutured and the skin closed with a clamp. Seven days day postoperative recovery period, the animals were tested for inclusion into the study. Pain is detected when one or more of the criteria below are met:

Licking of the operated paw, accompanied by gentle biting or pulling nails with the mouth; lifting the operated leg in the air; bearing weight on the side contralateral to the nerve injury; deformities of the hind paw and abnormal walking; weakness of the left hind paw. The animal has to be able to move it leg to ensure that L4 is intact.

Alzet pump: Animals from groups 1M, 5M, 7M and 9M were implanted subcutaneously with osmotic pumps on the day of surgery. A polyethylene tubing was implanted in the intrathecal space of the spinal cord, ending at level L4 and a cannula was connected to the pump. Pumping rate was 0.5 ul/hr (±0.1 ul/hr).

Lumbar injections: Animals from groups 2M, 4M, 6M and 8M were given bolus lumber injections as follows: An intrathecal tube was inserted into the animals IT space at L4-L5 level and the test agents were dosed slowly. Diagrams of the schedules used in the method are provided in FIGS. 13A and 13B. FIG. 13A reproduces treatment of allodynia since animals were administered the test siRNA at day 14 (d14) after SNL. FIG. 13B reproduces prevention of allodynia since animals were administered the test siRNA at day 1 (d1) after SNL.

TABLE B Dose Route active Group (IT = agent Volume Dosing Testing Group # Size Test Item intrathecal) (mg/kg) (ml/kg) Regime regime 1M N = 12 vehicle 1 IT Pump 0 12 ul/day** from day 0 On study days (saline) continuously −1, 14, 21, and to day 28 28 2M N = 12 vehicle 2 IT single 0 40 ul bolus Once on day On study days (saline) lumbar injection 1, 24 hours −1, 14, 16, 21, injection (slowly) after surgery and 28 3M N = 12 positive IP 150 mg/kg 5 ml/kg Once daily, On study days control 2 hours prior −1, 14, 21, and (gabapentin) to testing on 28 study days 14, 21 and 28 4M N = 12 siRhoA IT single 100 ug 40 ul bolus Once on day On study days (siRNA1) lumbar injection 1, 24 hours −1, 14, 21, and injection (slowly) after surgery 28 5M N = 12 siRhoA IT Pump 20 ug/day 12 ul/day** from day 0 On study days (total 280 continuously −1, 14, 21, and ug) to day 14* 28 6M N = 12 siRhoA IT single 100 ug 40 ul bolus once on day On study days lumbar injection 14, post VF −1, 14, 16, 21, injection (slowly) testing and 28 7M N = 12 siRhoA IT Pump 20 ug/day 12 ul/day** from day 14 On study days (total 280 continuously −1, 14, 21, and ug) to day 28* 28 8M N = 12 siTLR4 IT single 100 ug 40 ul bolus Once on day On study days (siRNA2) lumbar injection 1, 24 hours −1, 14, 21, and injection (slowly) after surgery 28 9M N = 12 siTLR4 IT Pump 30 ug/day 12 ul/day** from day 0 On study days (total 420 continuously −1, 14, 21, and ug) to day 14* 28 *animal given saline via intrathecal pump implantation on days when not injected with test agent **pumping rate is 0.5 ul/hr (±0.1 ul/hr) for 14 days

The allodynic response to tactile stimulation was assessed using the von Frey apparatus (Touch test). To assess the 50% mechanical threshold for paw withdrawal, a von Frey hair was applied to the hind foot avoiding the foot pad. Each of the von Frey hairs, which are calibrated to bend at increasing log forces, were pressed perpendicularly to the foot with sufficient force to cause slight bending for a duration of approximately six to eight seconds. A positive response was noted if the foot was sharply withdrawn.

FIG. 14A shows results from animal in groups 1M, 3M, 5M, 7M and 9M, i.e. from animals receiving siRhoA (5M and 7M) or siTLR4 (9M) from an implanted minipump continuously from day 0 to day 14 (5M and 9M) or from day 14 to day 28 (7M) compared to animals receiving saline (1M) or gabapentin (3M). A positive effect was obtained in animals treated with siRhoA and siTLR4. The data showed efficacy as early as 14 days post SNL and continued through day 28. Both siRhoA and siTLR4 are effective in treating allodynia.

FIG. 14B shows results from animals in groups 2M, 4M, 6M, and 8M, i.e. from animals that received a single lumbar injection of siRhoA (4M) or siTLR4 (8M) one day after SNL and before signs of allodynia appeared or 14 days post SNL (siRhoA, 6M). The data indicate that both siRhoA and siTLR4 are effective in treating and preventing allodynia. The recorded pain levels at 28 days post single lumbar injection show that both siTLR4 and siRhoA were effective in reducing sensitivity to pain.

Table C shows the experimental set up to evaluate the antinociceptive and analgesic activity of siRhoA and siTLR4 in the spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model for neuropathic pain in rats. In all groups the siRNA is administered to the rats via a single bolus lumbar injection. Groups 4M and 5M are designed to further assess siTLR4 in preventing allodynia as compared to control siRNA. Groups 6M and 7M are designed to further assess siRhoA in treating allodynia as compared to control siRNA.

The experiments described above and presented in Tables B and C are useful for testing the effect of double stranded RNA compounds to any one of the target genes set forth in Table A in the treatment or prevention of neuropathic pain.

TABLE C Group Administration Dose Volume Dosing Testing Group # Size Test Item Route (mg/kg) (ml/kg) Regime Regime 1M N = 5 Vehicle 1 IT Single 0 40 μl bolus Once on day 1, On study day Lumbar injection 24 hours after −1, 14, 16, injection (slowly) surgery 21 and 28 2M N = 5 Vehicle 2 IT Single 0 40 μl bolus Once on day On study Lumbar injection 14, post Von days injection (slowly) Frey testing −1, 14, 16, 21 and 28 3M N = 10 Positive IP 150 mg/kg 3 ml/kg Once daily, 2 On study Control hours prior to days (Gaba- testing on −1, 14, 16, pentin) study days 14, 21 and 28 16, 21 and 28 4M N = 10 siRNA2 IT Single 100 μg 40 μl bolus Once on day 1, On study Lumbar injection 24 hours after days injection (slowly) surgery −1, 14, 16, 21 and 28 5M N = 10 Control IT Single 100 μg 40 μl bolus Once on day 1, On study siRNA 2 Lumbar injection 24 hours after days injection (slowly) surgery −1, 14, 16, 21 and 28 6M N = 10 siRNA1 IT Single 100 μg 40 μl bolus Once on day On study Lumbar injection 14, post Von days injection (slowly) Frey testing −1, 14, 16, 21 and 28 7M N = 10 Control IT Single 100 μg 40 μl bolus Once on day On study siRNA 1 Lumbar injection 14, post Von days injection (slowly) Frey testing −1, 14, 16, 21 and 28

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A method of treating or preventing neuropathic pain in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a double stranded RNA compound directed to a target gene selected from RhoA or TLR4, in an amount effective to treat or prevent neuropathic pain in the subject.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the double stranded RNA compound is administered by lumbar injection.
 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the neuropathic pain is associated with spinal cord injury or with peripheral nervous system injury.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the neuropathic pain is associated with spinal cord injury.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the spinal cord injury comprises nerve trauma or ischemic injury.
 6. The method of claim 3 wherein the neuropathic pain comprises allodynia.
 7. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the double stranded RNA is chemically modified siRNA.
 8. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the subject is a human subject.
 9. The method of claim 3 wherein the double stranded RNA is administered to the subject between 0 hours to 48 hours post injury.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the double stranded RNA is administered to the subject between 0 hours to 24 hours post injury.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the neuropathic pain is associated with a condition selected from the group consisting of traumatic nerve injury, post-ischemia, fibromyalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, complex regional pain syndrome, sciatica, phantom limb pain, diabetic neuropathy, and cancer chemotherapeutic-induced neuropathic pain.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the neuropathic pain is caused by a malignant tumor, stroke, postherpetic neuralgia, neuropathy with monoclonal protein, vasculitic neuropathy, neuropathy associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome, neuropathy associated with Fabry's disease, an inflammatory condition, an autoimmune disorder including mulitiple sclerosis, a toxin, a drug, a hereditary abnormality, a mastectomy, or an amputation.
 13. A method of treating a subject suffering from a disease, a disorder or an injury of the CNS associated with expression of a target gene, comprising locally administering to the subject's spine a double stranded RNA compound directed to the target gene in an amount effective to treat the subject, wherein the target gene is selected from a gene set forth in Table A.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the target gene is selected from the group consisting of RhoA and TLR4.
 15. The method of claim 13 or 14 wherein the double stranded RNA compound is administered intraparenchymally and/or by lumbar injection.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the double stranded RNA compound is administered intraparenchymally.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the double stranded RNA compound is administered by lumbar injection.
 18. The method of claim 13 wherein the double stranded RNA is siRNA
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein siRNA compound is administered as naked siRNA.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the disease, disorder, or injury comprises neurodegeneration.
 21. The method of claim 13, wherein the disease, disorder, or injury comprises loss of motor function.
 22. The method of claim 13, wherein the disease, disorder, or injury comprises loss of white matter.
 23. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the subject is suffering from pain.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the pain is neuropathic pain.
 25. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the subject is a human subject.
 26. The method of claim 1 or 13, wherein the method comprises administering to the subject a further pharmacological agent selected from a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, anti-inflammatory agent, an antibiotic, an anti-viral agent, a free radical scavenger, an anti-cancer agent and a chemotherapeutic agent or any combination thereof, for simultaneous, concurrent, separate or sequential use in treating the subject.
 27. A method for restoring motor function in a subject, comprising locally administering to subject's spine a double stranded RNA compound directed to a target gene associated with a loss of motor function in the subject, in an amount effective to restore motor function in the subject.
 28. The method according to claim 27, wherein restoring of motor function is partial or full restoration of motor function.
 29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the subject is suffering from injury of the CNS.
 30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the double stranded RNA compound is administered by lumbar injection.
 31. A method of attenuating pain associated with expression of a target gene in a CNS in a subject suffering from injury of the CNS, comprising administering to the subject a double stranded RNA compound directed to the target gene, in an amount effective to attenuate pain in the subject, wherein the double stranded RNA compound is administered by lumbar injection.
 32. The method of claim 31 wherein the target gene is RhoA or TLR4.
 32. A method of preserving white matter in the spinal cord of a subject suffering from injury of the CNS, comprising administering to the subject a double stranded RNA compound directed to a target gene in the CNS, in an amount effective to preserve white matter in the subject, wherein the double stranded RNA compound is administered by lumbar injection.
 33. A method of preventing allodynia in a subject suffering from injury of the CNS, comprising administering to the subject a double stranded RNA compound directed to a target gene in the CNS, in an amount effective to prevent allodynia in the subject, wherein the double stranded RNA compound is administered by lumbar injection.
 34. The method of claim 33 wherein the target gene is RhoA or TLR4.
 35. A method of promoting serotonergic fiber growth in a subject suffering from injury of the CNS, comprising administering to the subject a double stranded RNA compound directed to a target gene in the CNS, in an amount effective to prevent allodynia in the subject, wherein the double stranded RNA compound is administered by lumbar injection.
 36. The method of claim 35 wherein the target gene is RhoA or TLR4. 